India had impressed upon the 171-nation UN Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) at The Hague to pass a resolution endorsing captive breeding of tigers only where they aided conservation. “The menace of wildlife crime and illegal trade in wildlife products continues to be a cause of concern,” the minister of state for environment and forests, Mr Namo Narayan Meena, told the CITES at its ongoing meeting. He said the enormity of the situation and the whole gamut of factors involved calls for more conscious and concerted actions at regional, national and trans-national level.

“Tigers should not be bred for trade in their parts or derivatives,” a resolution adopted by the CITES had said. The resolution was adopted by consensus even though China argued strongly against it, reports from The Hague quoting delegates said. Beijing had told CITES last week that it was considering allowing domestic trade in parts from its 5,000 captive-bred tigers if a scientific study proved it would reduce poaching and help conserve wild tigers worldwide. However, many nations, including India, Nepal, Russia, the United States and Bhutan said any domestic Chinese sales would simply encourage poachers to cash in and shoot remaining tigers in the wild around Asia.

Mr Meena said the international community had shown great commitment to regulate the trade in wildlife and crack down wildlife crimes. But India had been a victim of growing illegal trade and its consequential impact on depletion of critically endangered flora and fauna. Referring to the tiger, he said it was India’s national animal and its national heritage. “We support the largest wide population of tiger in well established network of protected areas and tiger reserves,” the minister underlined. “Despite our efforts to conserve this magnificent animal, the illegal trade in tiger and its body parts across the international borders is the biggest problem. Coaching and illegal trade threatens its survival.”

Mr Meena sought international support and cooperation to address concerns of tiger conservation, particularly, illegal trade in tiger products. India’s Wildlife Protection Act, he informed, strengthened enforcement mechanisms and enhanced punishment for wildlife criminals In this context, he said, the National Wildlife Action Plan had identified this issue and its products as a priority area for action.

India had also set up a multi-disciplinary wildlife crime control bureau for dedicated and focused action on tackling wildlife crime. The minister expressed the need to give more focus to the protection of our marine resources and timber resources.

India is a signatory to several international treaties and conventions like CITES, Convention on Migratory Species, International Whaling Commission.