Chinese Pitch In To Clear Tiger Snares

Too often, the news from China about animals is about unethical treatment and abuses. Here’s a far more positive report: Recently, in the midst of winter, 59 Chinese volunteers helped to clear 162 illegal wire snares from the northeastern province of Heilongijang. The snares had been set by poachers and are meant to catch boar, rabbits and roe deer, but have sometimes caught tigers. Indeed, last October, a tiger was found dead in one such snare.

The population of Amur or Siberian tigers in China is very low — only 18 to 22 are thought to remain — and the animals are critically endangered. In the 1940s, about 300 tigers were living in the country. The World Conservation Society estimates that fewer than 3,500 tigers remain in the wild, with only about 1,000 of those breeding females. Signs of these big cats have been appearing more and more in the nearby Russian Far East, where the population is several hundred.

Tiger parts are sought after for use in traditional Chinese medicine; their bones have been used for centuries to treat arthritis and muscular atrophy. The animals’ beautiful pelts are also highly sought after. In addition, illegal logging is threatening their’ habitat. Roe deer are one of the tigers’ staple foods but poaching has drastically reduced the population of these in the forests.

The Chinese volunteers included doctors, computer engineers, public servants and college students; they worked beside WCS staff for six days in freezing temperatures and in deep snow. Joe Walston, WCS Director of Asia Programs, said that it was “heartening to see a new generation of environmentally committed young Chinese willing and able to volunteer their time to do something challenging but important for their country’s natural heritage.”

Zhu Chunquan, who works at the World Wildlife Fund‘s Beijing office, emphasized that, unless the Chinese government takes steps, the tigers will disappear from China within 10 to 20 years — a preventable tragedy, if the right steps are taken to ensure their survival.

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Photo by mape_s

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
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Paul S.

8:29AM PDT on May 24, 2012

Better late than never (just). I'm glad about this, and wish for them and the tiger every success.

send a green star

Will R.

4:44AM PDT on May 24, 2012

If all the Chinese, 1 billion of them were all using tiger parts, then they wouldn't be any tigers left! They would have made them extinct many years ago. You have to stop hating the entire Chinese population for the excesses of their one percent. Yes they have a 1% too! ...Thats like hating America because that's where G.W. Bush comes from! I suspect these China haters are small minded bigots who are looking for someone to hate, and if they didn't hate China then they would just hate someone else.

Terry V.

3:39AM PDT on May 24, 2012

Thanks

Cynthia B.

5:16PM PDT on May 23, 2012

finally some have developed a conscience I hope this awareness spread Thanks to this group

Debbie C.

1:35PM PST on Feb 25, 2012

The 59 Chinese volunteers who helped to clear the illegal wire snares should be very proud of themselves. They took a step in the right direction in saving these beautiful tigers.

Now, if they could just convince the rest of China that using the tiger body parts does NOT help in their medicine, that would be a giant leap into saving this endangered species.

I wish them a lot of luck. These tigers are too special to loose.

William B.

5:57AM PST on Feb 16, 2012

Congratulations to all those who took part, I realy hope this is the start of something big.
But sadly I fear it is too little too late for the tigers

Nicole P.

3:00AM PST on Feb 13, 2012

Hats off for the these awesome indiviuals!

John S.

9:50AM PST on Feb 11, 2012

You gotta love a positive story like this; however, China has a LONG way to go to make up for the incredible damage its people do to animals and the environment.

Judith C.

6:32PM PST on Feb 10, 2012

A step in the right direction, the volunteers need to be commended for setting a good example.

Ann S.

9:35PM PST on Feb 9, 2012

About time they started doing something positive for majestic, wild creatures. I wonder how many more generations it will take before they realize their superstitious, weird animal parts medicines are doing nothing for them. The Chinese are certainly not known for longevity or for being any healthier than anyone else in the world, so why do they continue and continue with these weird and evil "medical" treatments?