HERE’S why three men were arrested on Malaysia Day after the carcass of a Malayan tiger was found in their small car — good, old-fashioned supply-and-demand economics.
The trio had allegedly trapped, or killed, wildlife worth about RM300,000 in street value. So fines of up to RM1 million and jail terms of up to 15 years are hardly a deterrent.
At US$1,400 per pound (0.45kg) for powdered tiger bone, poaching is a lucrative crime, perhaps even more than human and drug trafficking.
Driven by culture, tradition and status — combined with scarcity and lucrative black-market prices — the illicit trade commands big money.
It’s why wild tiger populations, including the Malayan tiger, face threats from poachers, despite legal protections and conservation efforts.
The demand primarily originates from one major country — historically the world’s largest consumer and breeder of tigers for traditional medicine and luxury goods — which remains undeterred by a global ban on this trade.
The use of these products by the newly wealthy has contributed to the decline of wild tigers over the past century — from about 100,000 to around 5,600.
Some countries have become international transit hubs for smuggling skins, bones, teeth and dried meat. Others are drawn to tiger bone glue for its use in treating ailments, despite its unproven medical benefits.
Then there is the demand for tiger teeth and claws for jewellery and traditional uses — one of the reasons why the Malayan tiger population has fallen to only about 150.
Tigers inhabit only 13 countries, with a majority of them found in India.
It’s not just tigers. Rhino poaching remains high, and an estimated 35,000 elephants are killed annually to fuel the illegal ivory trade. In fact, in one major country, wildlife trafficking involves as many as 38 million animals annually.
It’s obvious that anti-poaching measures alone are insufficient.
Law enforcement must focus on on the root cause: the insatiable demand that fuels a global black market worth an estimated US$20 billion.
All of these measures will be pointless if the demand in illegal markets isn’t eliminated.
To do this, the black market must be targeted, exposed and sanctioned through legal reforms, innovative awareness campaigns and international cooperation.
Otherwise, we face a future where the study of many animals can be done only through digital records.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
