ACTIVITIES
TRAFFIC/IUCN/CITES: Recognizing that viable tiger populations might not survive in the wild
beyond the turn of the century, WWF has launched several emergency and long-term projects.
This multi-pronged approach includes investigating and monitoring the illegal wildlife trade with a
direct focus on tiger bone and rhino horn, supporting anti-poaching activities, enhancing habitat
protection, assisting with programmes aimed at reducing conflicts between protected-area
managers and people living in and around reserves, initiating, through regional bodies, education
and training activities for field staff, park guards, and villagers, and widespread public awareness
activities.In 1998, the Chinese Year of the Tiger, the WWF network has launched a worldwide
campaign to revitalize support from governments, NGOs and the general public to save the
species from possible extinction. WWF's status report entitled, 1998 The WWF Year for the
Tiger, outlines WWF's new intiatives including the establishment of a Rapid Response
Emergency Fund.
Making CITES Work: Since 1993-1994, WWF has greatly increased support for TRAFFIC,
the wildlife trade monitoring programme of WWF and IUCN. WWF and TRAFFIC are also
exploring culturally sensitive ways to discourage consumption of tiger bones and parts for
medicinal purposes and to encourage the use of effective substitutes. WWF provides funds to
law enforcement agencies for improving implementation of CITES and is placing pressure on
governments of countries and territories of key concern to stop the illegal trade. In 1994, WWF
and TRAFFIC worked closely with tiger range and consuming states to broker an
unprecedented agreement to halt the trade. This agreement was unanimously adopted by all
CITES members at the 9th CITES Conference of the Parties in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The
10th Conference in Harare, Zimbabwe, in June 1997, however, noted with alarm that tiger
derivatives were still being used in many countries and unanimously adopted a strengthened
resolution calling on all parties to improve their legislation controlling the trade in tigers and tiger
parts and to introduce penalties to deter such trade. WWF has taken immediate action to help
national authorities enforce this agreement. As part of its Year for the Tiger efforts in 1998,
WWF plans to collaborate with CITES and TRAFFIC in supporting and organizing a series of
workshops in the border areas of Indochina and the Russian Far east where illegal wildlife trade
problems are seriously acute. WWF is also, in cooperation with TRAFFIC East Asia, producing
and distributing materials in the language of tiger range and consuming states including its Species
Status Report on the Tiger, Wanted Alive: Tigers in the Wild, in Chinese and in Japanese.
TRAFFIC Network: In April 1995, WWF supported the establishment of a TRAFFIC office in
Russia to investigate the largely uncontrolled wildlife trade there. TRAFFIC research indicates
that Russia has become one of the biggest suppliers to the international medicinal trade in
endangered species. Exports, predominantly to East Asia, include tiger skins and bones.
Investigators also found tiger products on sale in Russia's domestic markets. TRAFFIC staff in
Russia are now working to identify smuggling routes, particularly in the Russian Far East.
WWF also supported the establishment in 1994 of a regional TRAFFIC office in East Asia. Staff
at the new regional office in Hong Kong and national offices in Japan and Taiwan are monitoring
domestic markets for tiger bone products, documenting the volume, prices and, if possible, the
place of origin of the products found. Staff in Japan and Taiwan played key roles in the recent
strengthening of wildlife legislation.
In India, TRAFFIC investigations in 1995 led to numerous seizures of tiger bones and skins, the
arrest of an important smuggling gang, and the uncovering of illicit trade routes between India,
Nepal, Bhutan and East Asia. In 1993, TRAFFIC India masterminded an operation that resulted
in the seizure of nearly 500kg of tiger bones in New Delhi. This biggest ever haul of tiger bones
and skins shook the world and convinced the conservation community that the tiger was on the
path to extinction.
TRAFFIC Southeast Asia was opened in Malaysia in 1992 for field investigations and general
trade monitoring throughout Southeast Asia. This office has worked closely with non-member
nations in the region. Thanks to TRAFFIC and other NGOs, Vietnam, Myanmar and Cambodia
have acceded to the treaty. In 1995 TRAFFIC Southeast Asia carried out a study of tiger trade
in Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.
In December 1997, TRAFFIC organized with WWF support, the first International Symposium
on Endangered Species Use in Traditional East Asian Medicine as part of its ongoing dialogue
with the TCM Community. In 1998, to mark the Chinese Year for the Tiger, WWF-US and
TRAFFIC released reports revealing that over 50 per cent of the retail stores surveyed in
Chinatowns in seven cities in the US and Canada sold medicines labelled as containing tiger parts
and derivatives of other endangered species. WWF is campaigning for strengthening national
legislation to ban imports and sales of such medicines in North America.
Operation Charm: In 1995, WWF-supported probes undertaken by TRAFFIC uncovered
hundreds of medicines claiming to contain tiger bone and other wildlife derivatives being sold in
Australia, New Zealand, Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
In Belgium and the UK, the findings led to police raids and seizures.The UK seizures are part of
an ongoing multi-agency initiative, code named Operation Charm. TRAFFIC continues to
monitor this trade and is assisting authorities to better intercept such illicit medicines at the
borders.
IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group: Every year WWF gives support to the IUCN Species
Survival Commission's (SSC) Cat Specialist Group. With major support from WWF, the
IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group published a Cat Action Plan in 1996. The Action Plan reviews
the status and conservation requirements for tigers and other species of wild cat. Major issues in
cat conservation include: habitat, management, research, trade, captive-breeding and
re-introduction. A series of priority projects for wild cat conservation in the 1990s are to be
listed. This Action Plan will act as a reference document for wildlife officials, managers and
research scientists assisting them in the conservation of tigers and other wild cats.
Global Tiger Forum:9 On 4 March 1994, 11 of the 14 tiger range countries (China, Lao PDR
and North Korea were absent) agreed to establish the Global Tiger Forum, an
inter-governmental body which aims to: conduct research into tiger biology, increase the
protected area network, develop a comprehensive legal framework, implement eco-development
around protected areas and create the necessary financial and infrastructural support. By March
1997 four countries had ratified: India, Myanmar, Bhutan and Vietnam. Nepal had submitted a
letter of intent..25
WWF's Global Tiger Strategy: In 1996, WWF developed a Global Tiger Strategy whose
overall plan of action was built around A Framework for Identifying High Priority Areas and
Actions for the Conservation of Tigers in the Wild. The framework -- published by WWF
and the Wildlife Conservation Society in association with the National Fish and Wildlife
Foundation's Save the Tiger Fund -- was the result of work by the World Conservation
Monitoring Centre, the Asian Bureau of Conservation and contributions from a group of
international and regional tiger conservation experts. A methodology was developed for
establishing a framework which sets priorities for tiger conservation. Using carefully selected
criteria, a total of 159 tiger habitat areas, termed Tiger Conservation Units (TCUs) have been
identified and ranked at four levels in order of importance. Of these, 25 are considered the most
important places where tigers stand the best chance of survival. The strategy thus sets priorities
for action and clearly defines the roles and responsibilities of the WWF family in supporting tiger
range states for saving the tiger.
Cambodia: In 1995 it was believed that tigers were dying at the rate of anywhere from two to
three a month in Cambodia11. The country's own action plan published that same year estimated
that 10 to 15 were being sold per month. In 1997 the country acceded to CITES but
enforcement of the convention is difficult because of political instability, which is also hampering
conservation efforts. In the spring of 1996, WWF co-supported with IUCN the training of
Cambodian wildlife staff who carried out surveys of large mammals, including tigers, in two
protected areas in Eastern Cambodia.
India: Tigers are in a state of siege in India and TRAFFIC India has played a key role in
monitoring and investigating a major threat, the rampant poaching for illegal trade in tiger parts in
the past few years. WWF is continuing its eco-development project in the buffer area of
Ranthambhore National Park. Project staff work with communities to develop alternatives to
relieve their dependency on the resources of the park and to help them regenerate the degraded
natural resources in the buffer area where they live. This includes fuelwood and fodder planting,
improved animal husbandry, soil and water conservation schemes, energy conservation, and a
focus on involving women in these activities.
Other activities include creating an NGO monitoring network for protected areas, developing
campaigns and media alerts for protected areas under serious threat, giving technical and financial
support to NGOs and local groups who need to make legal interventions in order to prevent
destruction of protected areas, setting up a protected-areas database and increasing education
and awareness activities.
WWF Tiger Conservation Programme: In 1997, WWF launched its Tiger Conservation
Programme (TCP) focussing initially on India, but with some involvement with other countries,
particularly in South East. Using WWF's Global Tiger Strategy, WWF-India has selected seven
priority areas for its work.
Project Tiger:1 Project Tiger, started in 1973, involved the creation of a network of tiger
reserves throughout India which were composed of a 'core' zone free from all human activity and
a 'buffer' zone in which land use compatible with conservation needs was permitted. Since the
start of the programme, the population of tigers in India increased from approximately 1,900 to
around 4,300 in 1989.2 This apparent success has been undermined in recent years by an
increase in illegal killing of tigers. Effectively masked by the high profile and visibility of tigers in
the reserves, the scale of these activities has only recently become clear.8,13 Although 20 tiger
reserves had been created by autumn 19944, the actual population of tigers had fallen to
approximately 3,750 according to the 1993 census.5,8 In Ranthambhore National Park, for
example, the number of tigers had decreased from over 40 in 1989 to 15 in 199311, a population
size similar to that recorded when Project Tiger began. Latest estimates suggest there may be
18-20 tigers, including 9 cubs. 25 Since 1994, three more reserves were added, bringing the total
to 23. But the Director of Project tiger, P.K. Sen, said in 1997 that despite these conservation
efforts that there may be fewer than 3,000 tigers remaining in India. There is little protection for
tigers living outside the reserves, representing over 50% of the country's tiger population.28
In 1997, the Project Tiger Steering Committee agreed a series of new actions, including: creating
additional project tiger reserves; an increase in funds; new methods to transmit funds directly to
tiger reserves, rapid purchase of equipment, such as vehicles, for the field; creation of a new unit
to deal exclusively with illegal trade in wildlife; move to stop or alter all development projects
having a damaging effect in or around tiger reserves; identify vital corridors that connect important
tiger habitats to ensure the future viability of tiger populations. India's Planning Commission is
reported to have doubled the allocation of funds for Project Tiger in its next Five Year Plan.15
Sino-Indian Protocol on Tiger Conservation:12 (signed 2nd March 1995) The Governments
of India and the People's Republic of China are 'making joint efforts to halt the trend of
decimation of the tiger population to ensure the survival and sustainable development of the
species'.12 The protocol is a welcome step towards international co-operation, but has been
criticised by the IUCN Cat Specialist Group as it encourages captive breeding programmes with
a view to the release of tigers into the wild. The Specialist Group states that these programmes
are expensive and unnecessary, as tigers breed well in the wild given adequate protection. The
Group suggests that the context of 'sustainable development' needs to be fully clarified.16
WWF Protected Areas Programme:17 WWF-India has established a Protected Areas
programme in conjunction with Project Tiger. This focuses on eco-development schemes in
Manas Sanctuary, and the Dudhwa and Ranthambhore National Parks. The aim is to address the
underlying causes of habitat loss by offering local people sources of income alternative to those
involving habitat destruction or tiger poaching. Similar programmes were set up by WWF in the
Royal Chitwan National Park (Nepal), Kerinci Seblat National Park (Indonesia) and the Huai
Kha Kaeng and Thung Yai National Park complex (Thailand).
Indonesia: Kerinci Seblat National Park, the largest protected area in the world where Sumatran
tigers live, is under severe threat from unsustainable practices. Working with the Forest
Protection and Nature Conservation, WWF seeks to put into place a sustainable natural resource
management system for the park. WWF is also lobbying to have the Tigapuluh Hills in the eastern
lowlands of Sumatra declared a protected area. Identified as a top priority TCU, there is a need
to implement an integrated plan for the area, with special emphasis on tiger conservation.
Monitoring and protection of priority species in Indonesia involves support for the implementation
of CITES and the development of conservation strategies for the Sumatran tiger and Javan and
Sumatran rhinos.
Malaysia: In order to establish the latest tiger population numbers in Malaysia, to investigate
conflicts between tigers and humans, and to evaluate tiger habitats, WWF is working in
partnership with the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) and the Wildlife
Conservation Society (WCS). Various activities will be undertaken by the partners utilizing the
skills and experiences of the different agencies, so as to assist DWNP in the implementation of
the National Tiger Action Plan, prepared by DWNP in 1995. These include rapid assessment
surveys, identification of conflict resolution strategies and the production of education and
awareness materials addressing the critical issues and for different target groups. WWF will, in
particular, be working with the partners to identify appropriate information messages for
awareness and the relevant dissemination strategies to target audiences.
Nepal: WWF is working with other conservation NGOs and the Department of National Parks
and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) to tackle the most pressing problems of rhino and tiger
poaching in Royal Chitwan and Royal Bardia National Parks. WWF established anti-poaching
units in both protected areas. In May 1995, the DNPWC hosted the country's second CITES
training and public awareness workshop. In addition, a country tiger action plan has been drafted,
additional equipment provided, tiger status surveys are being carried out and education
programmes are being conducted through the media and in village schools. Under a new tiger
grant six new anti-poaching units were increased in Chitwan and Bardia, and extended to Parsa
Wildlife Reserve. In 1995, there were eight seizures of tiger bones, most of them complete
skeletons, from villages near Chitwan and Parsa. Tiger skins were also seized and 23
poachers/traffickers were apprehended. According to a 1995 survey, the tiger population in
Chitwan appears to have increased and stabilized at 35 adult/subadult females and 13
adult/subadult males. 25 An International Tiger Field Assessment Workshop was held in Nepal in
March 1997 for wildlife biologists and managers from tiger range states to discuss tiger census
methodologies. The main aim is to arrive at standardized methods for tiger surveys to be used
throughout the tiger's range. 25
Russian Far East: The last remaining habitat of the Siberian tigers are to be found in Primorski
Krai and Khabarovsk Krai. In the winter of 1995-96, a census of Amur tigers throughout their
range revealed the status and distribution of between 330 and 371 adult tigers; the survey
showed an overall number of between 400 and 500 tigers. 15 This, together with information
from the existing protected areas system, has provided conservationists with the necessary data
to develop a habitat protection plan for the tiger. The plan proposes a network of connecting
protected areas covering 65,000km2 which would support about 70 resident female tigers. 24 In
1996, Russian scientists prepared a national strategy for the Amur tiger which was published by
the WWF-Russian Programme office. Many of its recommendations are being implemented,
including a highly successful anti-poaching programme. WWF is part of a coordinated effort by
several NGOs to support the Russian government's anti-poaching brigades. More than eight
brigades were set up between 1993 and 1997 in response to huge losses of as many as 70 tigers
a year to poachers. Now, known cases of poaching have dropped to 13 and 18 in 1995 and
1996 respectively. 24
Thailand: As in other tiger range states, WWF's tiger conservation work concentrates on
supporting the forest department in its efforts to conserve major tiger habitat and tackle human
encroachments, poaching, and damaging development projects. It is helping to carry out research
and surveys on tiger distribution, and prey abundance in some of the priority TCUs, namely Phu
Khieeo and Huai Kha Khaeng. Training of forest guards and rangers and environmental
education programmes are also major activities. In another top priority TCU, the Western Isan
Forest complex, WWF is supporting the Royal Thai Forest Department to improve the
management of four protected areas through technical assistance, training and promotion of
sustainable resource use by local communities. In recent years, the Thai government, assisted by
TRAFFIC Southeast Asia, has started to implement measures to address the inadequate
legislation and law enforcement that prevent effective wildlife trade control. WWF is supporting
TRAFFIC work in Thailand, currently focussing on collecting information on tiger and elephant
products.
Vietnam: In March 1995 WWF, together with the IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group and
Vietnam's Ministry of Forestry (also the CITES Management Authority for Vietnam), organized
in Hanoi the first regional workshop on the Indochinese tiger. Vietnam and Cambodia and Lao
PDR (not yet Party to CITES) pledged their support to clamp down on the tiger trade.
Ministerial agreements on law enforcement efforts to protect tigers and other endangered species
were signed by China and Vietnam in December 1995. In August 1995, WWF funded the
training of 90 customs officials posted at key border areas throughout Vietnam. The CITES
Secretariat and TRAFFIC Southeast Asia conducted these workshops that where hosted by
Vietnam's Ministry of Forestry. Despite these efforts tigers are being killed regularly and the country appears to be a central illegal trading point for Indochina. A WWF project at Chu Mom Ray nature reserve, in the tri-border area of Vietnam, Lao PDR and Cambodia, with an emphasis on anti-poaching, should help the newly-established forest guard patrols through the
supply of equipment, training programmes and public awareness activities
