India rejects modification on China tiger farms by EU

India has rejected a proposal by the European Union to modify an existing decision for China to phase out Chinese tiger farms.

India made an intervention at the ongoing Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) Conference of Parties in Doha,after the European Union suggested that tiger-range countries adopt an EU reporting system for making a wildlife crime database. The EU has suggested that the EU-TWIX database system be followed by tiger-range countries. And while the proposal also asks for phasing out of tiger farms,India thinks the proposal was not discussed with tiger-range countries,which are Asian,before being presented.

Further,India does not want any tampering with a previous decision in which CITES,the apex body for monitoring wildlife trade,pressed China for shutting tiger farms,keeping them only to a level which supports conservation of wild tigers,meaning minimising captive tiger farming as much as possible. As a result of another previous intervention made by India,it was decided that China report to the international body how it was shutting down its farms.

However,India has now pointed out that the reporting has not taken place. At this years summit,India has said the status of tigers in India is perilous,and has asked other tiger-range countries for reciprocal commitments.

Three years after it was asked to report shutting down tiger farms,we still stand where we were, the Indian delegation said. The progress in restricting captive populations to a level supportive to conserve wild tigers leaves a lot to be desired. This is a cause for great concern. Despite our best intentions,the response is not forthcoming, India said,adding that internally too there were problems in tiger conservation,with revenge killing of tigers by villagers being a huge issue.

Speaking to The Indian Express,a member of the Indian delegation said India wanted action to be reported on the phasing out of Chinese tiger farms.

India-Nepal talks on tiger protection

NEW DELHI: Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh on Monday met his Nepali counterpart Deepak Vohra to discuss a roadmap for building Indo-Nepalese mechanisms for tiger protection and exchange of information on the Indo-Nepal border. It was suggested that regular monthly meetings be held between Indian and Nepali officers to check tiger poaching. ENS