In 2023, The European Commission released the EU Tiger Guidance and took a crucial/vital step to increase controls on the commercial trade of live captive-bred tigers, and their parts.
The potential impact for captive tigers is huge. If the Guidance is implemented by EU Member States, it could:
- End the trade of tigers for commercial purposes, including activities like private keeping or tigers used for entertainment.
- End the trade or export of live captive-born and bred tigers and their parts and products within the EU (except for licensed zoos or sanctuaries).
We are now campaigning to ensure that the EU Tiger Guidance is implemented in all EU Member States and that captive tigers are better protected!
The commercial trade with captive tigers and their parts is legal, out of control and exploiting captive tigers and harming wild populations. This is happening right on our doorstep, in Europe.
• Throughout the European Union, it is legal to trade captive tigers (to use them in circuses, as pets or for selfies)
• European countries don’t have an accurate overview of the captive tiger population
• The commercial tiger trade undermines international efforts to end illegal trade and poaching
Shockingly, tigers born in Europe in captivity can still be traded for commercial purposes like circuses, for private keeping or photo opportunities.
There is no clear overview of the actual number of captive tigers and the trade of these animals. To our knowledge, no authority, organisation or country knows how many tigers are currently kept in Europe. They don’t know what happens to them during their lifetime or when they die. ‘In some cases, these animals are being turned into tiger bone wine or traditional medicines' says Kieran Harkin, Wildlife Trade Expert at FOUR PAWS.
The number of tigers in the wild is only a fraction of what they used to be. The tiger is an endangered species. The dramatic decline is a result of a relentless demand for tigers traded for their parts but also to be used commercially. The legal trade with live tigers poses an easy cover for illegal trade, with tiger parts. This threatens wild tiger populations and encourages poaching.
Please support our campaign by signing our petition.