Interpol Launches Campaign to Save Asia's Wild Tigers

Bengal tiger

It has been recently reported that Interpol has joined the battle to save Asia's wild tigers. The international police organization has launched a campaign to help save these majestic beasts in thirteen Asian countries where they exist. The project's goal is to connect international wildlife officials with customs and police officers in the thirteen nations to help curb illegal poaching and smuggling of tiger parts for medicinal purposes. Among the officials expected to participate are from the U.S, Britain, the Smithsonian Institute, and the World Bank. Unveiled at Interpol's General Assembly meeting in Hanoi, the project was greatly applauded by conservationists. One of them was Mike Baltzer, head of World Wildlife Fund's Tigers Alive Initiative, who stated that it will "give the effort a great boost." Head of the World Bank and founder of the Global Tiger Initiative Robert Zoellick conveyed Interpol delegates in a video address that the project "will reduce trafficking in tiger parts, with the add-on-effect of reducing other wildlife crimes in Asia."

The South China tiger is one of the most critically endangered of all tigers. Experts warn that there maybe fewer than twenty of these tigers left, and may become extinct within the next ten years.

I'm very much surprised, yet amazed to see that the Interpol has become involved in a battle to save tigers. Usually when the Interpol comes to people's minds, they usually think this international organization is involved in helping battle crimes related to humanity. However, this article is a perfect representation to show how it is also involved in fighting crimes against nature. And with this project underway, there is a good feeling that poaching and other illicit activities functioning in the animals' home ranges will not stand a chance. However, I also hope that this campaign will aim to protect other Asian wildlife threatened the same way as tigers. Places like Vietnam has just recently lost its last Javan rhinoceros to extinction. At the same time, there are maybe thirty or forty of these animals remaining in Indonesia. Their numbers are in a critical state, which means they will be completely wiped out in a matter of time without any swift action. This is why I hope that a campaign like this will help slow down any further encroachment of humanity onto the last remaining wild lands of Asia.

View article here