Losing battle to save India's tiger from poachers who sell body parts to China
Experts say more of the cats are being poached because of high value for traditional medicine
The increasing number of tigers being poached in India will not come down as long as the demand for tiger products in China continues, wildlife experts say.
The latest figures released last week show that India lost approximately 48 tigers last year to poachers.
"Until the demand is addressed and stopped, tigers will go on being killed by poachers. But this issue of demand is something that can only be tackled by China," said Belinda Wright, head of the Wildlife Protection Society of India.
According to the government-run National Tiger Conservation Authority, 63 wild tigers died last year, some to accidents, illness or old age, but 48 to organised poaching gangs who sell the body parts to China where they are used in traditional medicine.
The figure for last year given by the Wildlife Protection Society of India is slightly lower at 42. But the Society says its figure is the highest in seven years.
"The prices the poachers are fetching are so high that, despite India's attempts to enforce the law, they are prepared to take risks. They are ruthless and sophisticated. We have to reduce demand," said Tito Joseph, the Society's programme manager.