Between 2011 and 2020, 359 tigers – almost 10% of the global wild tiger population – were exported from the country, the report reveals. Ninety-three tiger body parts were also sold to buyers predominantly in China, Thailand and Vietnam who use the flesh, skin and bones for the production of luxury goods and “traditional” medicine.
Of the 359 exported live tigers, the report reveals how 255 were said to be exported for the purpose of ‘zoos’. However, FOUR PAWS investigations revealed how traders in South Africa admitted to using this as a loophole – explaining how much easier it is to export live tigers to zoos in Asia than bones or parts.
Accompanying the revelations is never-before-seen undercover footage of the breeding farms, showing tigers and tiger cubs malnourished, drinking dirty water, behind bars and in mixed enclosures with other big cats.
Big Cat factory farms where distressed lions and tigers are stuffed into cages
The report demands South Africa end its big cat industry and slaughter and reverse its role as an exporter of tigers and their parts. It claims it would give the relevant enforcement authorities a better chance at being able to tackle the illegal trade within and from South Africa and indeed contribute to reversing the decline of big cat species across the globe.
The principal author of the report Kieran Harkin, Wildlife Trade Expert at FOUR PAWS says,
“Under the convention of CITES [Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora], countries have agreed on a decision that states that tigers should not be intensively bred for a trade in their body parts. It is clear that South Africa is allowing tigers and other big cats to be intensively bred for a commercial trade in their body parts. This is unacceptable as the farming of tigers for commercial trade has detrimental effects on wild tiger populations. South Africa is playing a significant role in contributing to the decline of a species that is non-native to Africa. The government needs to shut down this industry to help reverse the decline of all big cats and not just the tiger.”
The South African government continues to disregard international law. The convention explicitly states “tigers should not be bred for trade in their parts and derivatives.” The report claims the South African authorities do not even know the exact number of tigers in the country.
Fiona Miles, Director of FOUR PAWS in South Africa, says,
“South Africa needs to end the commercial breeding of all big cats and stop the export and commercial trade in live big cats and parts, including trophies. National legislation and international agreements should be re-examined since they are clearly not working. We have a responsibility to protect our own threatened species and prevent the exploitation of non-native big cats. If we do not, we put all big cat species at risk of one day, only existing behind bars.”
