As part of global initiative to protect tigers, tiger experts from China would visit Madhya Pradesh this winter. Recently two top forest officials from the State have visited China as part of Global Tiger Forum initiative for observing tiger conservation efforts in the neighbouring country.
State Chief Wildlife Warden HS Pabla and Panna Tiger Reserve Field Director RS Murthy were part of the contingent, which visited China recently over a week long visit. Forest officials and officials from Ministry of Environment and Forest, National Tiger Conservation Authority also were part of the visiting group.
Throwing light on the practice of captive breeding of wild animals in China, State Chief Wildlife Warden HS Pabla informed that apart from tigers, captive breeding of other animals like frogs, snakes, deer and so on is quite prevalent in China. “The organs of wild animals other than tiger, are sold in the open market, with the help of large scale captive breeding,” said Pabla.
He added that Chinese officials claimed that no trade was being undertaken for tiger organs as a ban is put in place on such malpractice as else where in the world. The body of the tigers which die in captivation is preserved in expectation that it could be used in future if the ban on tiger organ sale is lifted, told Pabla.
Describing the mgnitude of the captive tiger breeding in China, Pabla said that there were two Government controlled tiger parks (breeding centres), having 500 tigers each. There are also few private captive tiger breeding parks in China.
The CWLW further informed that poaching was not a big problem in China as there were not enough animals in the wild there. He mentioned the name of Hunchun Nature Reserve in Jilin province where there were only 8-10 tigers at present. “The Chinese officials informed that there were around 500 tigers long back,” said Pabla.
Explaining the Global Tiger Forum, Pabla informed that it was a common platform of nations having sizable tiger populations. Chinese officials have visited Madhya Pradesh in 2007 as well are expected to visit again in the coming winter, said Pabla.
On the query whether captive breeding would be pondered over for captive centres like Van Vihar, the CWLW said that it was a policy matter and the State and Central Government would be required to take any action in this regard.
On China’s efforts to control the illegal tiger organ trade, Pabla said that Chinese officials were quite clear on the matter as they are of the view that trade of tiger organs cannot be prevented unless and until there was demand for such items.
