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The tiger is one of the most revered, feared and yet popular species on Earth. It is perhaps the most powerful symbol for all of our planet's endangered wildlife.

The tiger is one of the most revered, feared and yet popular species on Earth. It is perhaps the most powerful symbol for all of our planet's endangered wildlife.

Once widespread across Asia, fewer than 7,000 wild tigers are now found in just 7% of the habitat they once occupied.

The most immediate threat to wild tigers is poaching. Despite international and domestic bans, a thriving black market for tiger skins and bones threatens to wipe out wild tigers. China, with its booming economy, burgeoning human population and ancient traditions of using tiger parts as medicine and clothing, is the world's leading consumer of tiger products.

The good news is that the Chinese government took decisive action to help save the species. In 1993, China outlawed all domestic trade of tiger products, while public awareness campaigns have curbed a demand that once saw tiger products annually sold in the tens of millions.

But there is a new threat in China that could put every last wild tiger at risk: the increasing population of captive-bred tigers on so-called "tiger farms". These farms, currently used as tourist attractions are speed-breeding tigers in hope that China will one day allow the sale of their parts and products.

More than 4,000 captive-bred, semi-tame tigers live on these farms today, and the investors in these tiger businesses are now pressuring the Chinese government to allow them to sell tiger products.

Reopening even limited legal trade in tiger products from farms would reignite a demand for wild tiger products. It also would give international crime syndicates an easy avenue for "laundering" illegally killed wild tigers from India, Russia and other countries, making law enforcement nearly impossible.

In essence, legal trade in tiger products from China's tiger farms would spark an open season on tigers in the wild.

Send a message to China: Ask China to keep its tiger trade ban in place. Your views will be personally conveyed to China's leaders.

~ source World Wildlife Fund