INVITATION TO TIGER TRADE EVENT AT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

TIGER trade is a serious and pressing threat to the last of the world’s wild tigers and the London-basedEnvironmental Investigation Agency (EIA) – together with partners Education for Nature – Vietnam(ENV) and Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI) – is calling on the European Union to take urgent action to tackle it.

On Wednesday, May 25, 2016, Neena Gill MEP (West Midlands) will host an event to highlight the issue at the European Parliament in Brussels at which EIA, ENV and WPSI will give insights into the situation on the ground in China, Vietnam, India and other countries, and discuss practical policy measures the EU can take.

The purpose is to showcase the plight of wild tigers and the threat posed by tiger ‘farming’, and to ensure Indian and Vietnamese civil society perspectives are heard.

All three NGOs believe the EU can play a critical role in helping to end the demand for, and trade in, tigers and other Asian big cats.

The global wild tiger population is likely little higher than 3,200; however, in the absence of completed scientific population surveys across all range countries it is difficult to establish an accurate estimate. In contrast, there are more than twice that number of captive tigers in ‘tiger farms’ in China, Thailand, Vietnam and Laos – facilities which stimulate demand for tiger parts and undermine enforcement efforts.

WHAT:          Panel Discussion on Tiger Trade

WHEN:         16:30-18:30 on Wednesday, May 25, 2016

WHERE:         Meeting Room ASP 3H1, European Parliament, Brussels, Belgium

RSVP:            neena.gill@europarl.europa.eu

CONTACTS FOR MEDIA:

• Ms Debbie Banks, EIA – debbiebanks@eia-international. org

• Ms Shruti Suresh, EIA – shrutisuresh@eia- international.org

• Mrs Nguyen Dung, ENV – dungnguyen.env@gmail.com

• Ms Belinda Wright, WPSI – belinda@wpsi-india.org

EDITORS’ NOTES

1. The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) is a UK- and Washington DC-based Non-Governmental Organisation that investigates and campaigns against a wide range of environmental crimes, including illegal wildlife trade, illegal logging, hazardous waste, and trade in climate and ozone-altering chemicals. More information here: https://eia-international.org/

2. Education for Nature – Vietnam (ENV) is the country’s first NGO focused on the conservation of nature and protection of the environment: More information here. http://envietnam.org/index.php

3. Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI) is one of the most effective wildlife conservation organisations in India, providing support and information to government authorities to combat illegal wildlife trade, particularly in wild tigers. More information here: http://www.wpsi-india.org/wpsi/index.php

4. More information on the tiger trade is available here. https://eia-international.org/our-work/environmental-crime-and-governance/illegal-wildlife-trade/illegal-trade-seizures-tigers-asian-big-cats

5. More information on tiger farming is available here: https://eia-international.org/where-are-the-tigers

Environmental Investigation Agency
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Tel: +44 207 354 7960