Tiger trade and trafficking in Bangkok?

In other parts of Thailand, tigers are tamed and tourists can take pictures with them without being attacked or whatnot. They can be either found in zoos or wildlife sanctuaries across the country. In fact people can have their own private zoos but must first procure a zoo license and a temporary permit to posses wildlife species. Their 1992 act prohibits trade of tigers and tiger parts by any means. They are also protected by the UN Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), which prohibits international trade in protected animals, animal parts and derivatives for commercial purposes.

It means that any animals not just tigers cannot be bought or sold to each other or anyone else. Though complicated, animals can be transferred from one zoo to the other if there is an approval from the National Parks Department. But trade and trafficking of tigers is still at large as officials seized another yet tiger meat and carcasses weighing 400kg in Khlong Sam Wa district in Bangkok earlier this month.

Despite the safeguarding measures of the government against tiger poaching in Thailand and the global effort to save endangered animals from extinction, I personally think that the decline of this illegal act and animal cruelty won't be in the soonest time possible. More seizures of tigers and tiger parts simply means high consumer demand. Saddest fact is, tiger poaching happens more in private zoos and wildlife sanctuaries.