Captive bred live tigers and tiger parts are being exported from South Africa in high numbers, many of which are for commercial and personal purposes. Between 2011 and 2020, a total of 359 live tigers were exported from South Africa, primarily to Vietnam, China, and Thailand, known hotspots for demand in tiger parts and the illegal trade. Tiger trophies were the second most frequent tiger item to be exported from South Africa, with 54 tiger trophies leaving South Africa during this time.
Without effective regulation, illegal networks have been established and are prospering.
“Breeders, taxidermists, agents, slaughterhouses, and foreign buyers – to name a few – are all active in exporting live animals, big cat parts and derivatives from South Africa to known wildlife trade hotspots around the world,” noted Fiona Miles, Director of FOUR PAWS in South Africa.
The new report also exposes the significant commercial trade in live lions, leopards, and jaguars from South Africa, and their parts.
“The lack of effective regulations, laws, and monitoring of the big cat trade in South Africa is sentencing these species to a life of commercial exploitation and to be killed so they can be used as luxury goods and in traditional medicine,” stated Miles. “The lack of effective regulations for species like tigers combined with the existence of a legal captive lion industry and bone trade, has allowed a legal industry to flourish, whilst also acting as a conduit for an illegal trade.”
“South Africa needs to end the commercial breeding of all big cats and stop the export and commercial trade in live big cats and their parts, including trophies. National legislation and international agreements should be re-examined since they are clearly not working,” concluded Miles. “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.”
