Open for business to trade tiger parts.
That’s what China basically announced when it temporarily lifted a ban in October 2018 on tiger bone and rhino horn from captive-bred animals for traditional medicine. While the 1992 ban was lifted only on captive-bred animals (read: tiger farms), this move signaled to illegal poachers, whose livelihood depend on selling tiger parts, to continue killing wild tigers.
A month after intense scrutiny from the conservation community and activists, China reversed its decision and reinstated the ban.
It’s this kind of action we hope to duplicate with our Tigers United Social Media Advocacy Campaign. On Friday, January 17, Tigers United is hosting a meeting with Clemson international students from tiger range countries and will share information on how to join the campaign. The meeting, which is open to the public, is scheduled for 4 p.m. at the Watt Innovation Center Auditorium. Space is limited so guests must register to reserve a seat. To register, visit http://bit.ly/2sqMVYX
Food and giveaways will be available for all guests.
Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russia, Thailand and Vietnam are the 13 tiger range countries. Tigers United is asking Clemson students from these countries to use their voices on social media to advocate for tiger conservation. We are asking students to share messages of tiger conservation; call for the end to poaching and eliminate the demand for illegal tiger parts, often used in traditional Chinese medicines.
“Tigers are unique and majestic beasts, and I believe it is my moral responsibility, as a human being and especially as a Clemson Tigers fan, to promote and take possible steps for their conservation,” said Vignesh Prabhu, a Clemson mechanical engineering graduate student and treasurer of the Clemson Indian Students Association.
Prabhu gladly stepped up and is encouraging his fellow Indian students to do the same. They are proud of the conservation efforts in India. Their country is home to 70% of the wild tiger population.
“Furthermore, being an Indian student, I am proud to promote and support the steps taken by the government of India to save the last few remaining Tigers, to raise global awareness, involve more countries and make sure our tigers keep going strong,” Prabhu said.
Clemson’s Office of Global Engagement is a partner with Tigers United in this initiative.
“One of Clemson’s greatest assets is its international faculty, staff and students. Any opportunity to serve and to support global initiatives, they eagerly take on. So many people at Clemson come from the 13 ‘tiger range countries,’” said Kyle Anderson, Clemson’s senior director of global engagement.
The international student community strongly supports the work of Tigers United.
“They respect and cherish the animal in a highly personal way. Their efforts to support Tigers United stretch across the globe, disseminating the dire issues facing tigers and the solutions to ensure their survival in local contexts,” Anderson said.
You can join the international student community in our effort to influence the global conversation around conservation of tigers and all animals. We ask you to consider using the following hashtags: #ispeakforthetiger #tigersunited and #tigertribe. You can also tag social media influencers involved in the conservation conversation. For a complete list of these influencers, see the link below.
Let’s band together and demonstrate to the world it’s not open season on tigers, rhinos or any endangered species.
