Save the Tiger Initiative

Save the Tiger Initiative

India and China will ratify a key pact on tiger conservation and combat of poaching.A five-member Indian delegation of Indian forest officials headed by A K Shrivastava were engaged in talks with their Chinese counterparts on these issues. They aim to ratify the 1995 protocol, reports MSN.

Beijing, Aug 31 (PTI) India and China are set to ratify a key pact on tiger conservation and combat poaching of the big cats as an Indian delegation today held talks here to deepen cooperation with Beijing in wild life management. A five-member Indian delegation of Indian forest officials headed by A K Shrivastava, which is on a five-day visit here, today held talks with their Chinese counterparts in the department of import and export of endangered species. The talks aims to ratify the 1995 protocol inked by the two countries for tiger conservation. The protocol, which is to be ratified every five years, would be discussed in the talks scheduled for September 2 between the two delegations, officials here told PTI today. It calls for joint measures to crack down on poaching of tigers and body parts, education programmes to stop poaching, captive breeding and releasing them into the wild. Indian officials regard the talks important as much of the poaching on tigers in India was blamed on the demand for tiger bones used in Chinese traditional medicine. China has banned trading in tiger parts but its wide spread medical usage in traditional medicines spurs demand for the bones of the big cats. India has underlined the need for China not to yield to pressures from the owners of tiger farms to lift the ban. Talks would also focus on promoting cooperation between the two countries in the field of wild life management and capacity building in critical areas of conservation. PTI KJV