The illegal hunting and trafficking of wild tigers, known as poaching, is the most immediate threat to the species’ survival. Wild tiger populations have plummeted from an estimated 100,000 a century ago to around 5,574 today, driving this iconic big cat to the brink of extinction. Poaching fuels a lucrative black market trade in tiger body parts, which are sought after for various reasons. Understanding the consumer demand and economic realities that motivate this crime is fundamental to developing effective conservation strategies.
The Role of Traditional Medicine
A significant portion of the demand for poached tiger parts is driven by their use in traditional practices, particularly as remedies and tonics. Tiger bones are especially prized and are frequently ground into a powder or boiled down to create tiger bone glue. This material is often steeped in alcohol to produce “Tiger Bone Wine,” which is consumed with the belief that it can treat ailments such as rheumatism, arthritis, and general body weakness.
Other internal parts of the animal are also sought for their perceived medicinal qualities. Tiger bile is sometimes used to treat convulsions, while the penis is consumed as a tonic believed to enhance virility. This belief system posits that consuming parts of a powerful animal can transfer its strength and attributes to the consumer. However, there is no scientific evidence to support the efficacy of any tiger parts for treating human diseases, though the cultural persistence of these beliefs maintains a continuous, high-value market for tiger remains.
Tiger Products as Status Symbols
Beyond medicinal consumption, a separate market exists for tiger products valued purely as indicators of wealth, power, and prestige. The most prominent of these status items are the tiger skins or pelts, which are used as luxurious rugs, wall hangings, or decorative items. Displaying a full tiger skin serves as an explicit signal of the owner’s affluence and social standing in certain communities.
Other parts of the tiger are converted into fashion accessories and amulets, functioning as smaller, wearable status symbols. The teeth and claws are frequently polished and set into jewelry, such as necklaces or pendants. These items are worn as talismans, with some consumers believing they offer protection or good luck.
The international trade in these decorative and luxury items is strictly prohibited under agreements like the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Despite these bans, the market remains robust, with a single tiger skin sometimes commanding a price as high as $55,000 on the global black market.
Economic Drivers of Illegal Hunting
The supply side of the poaching crisis is fundamentally driven by financial incentives that exploit socio-economic vulnerabilities in regions near tiger habitats. Poachers, who are the first link in the illegal supply chain, often live in areas characterized by high poverty levels and limited alternative income opportunities. For these individuals, the money offered for a poached tiger represents a significant sum that can far exceed the average annual income from legitimate work.
This low-risk, high-reward calculation for the initial hunter is facilitated by the organized criminal networks that manage the trafficking process. These networks exploit the desperate circumstances of local people, sometimes even using debt bondage to ensure a continuous supply. While the poacher receives only a fraction of the final black-market price, the money is enough to motivate the dangerous and illegal activity.
The vast majority of the profits are captured by the middlemen and transnational organized crime syndicates that transport the parts across international borders. These groups operate with complex structures to conceal their identities, linking the initial act of hunting to the wealthy end-consumers through a highly profitable illicit supply chain. This economic disparity, coupled with the systemic lack of legitimate employment in remote areas, ensures individuals are continuously motivated to risk poaching.