IFAW: Endangered pelts go up in smoke in Kashmir

(Kashmir – 4 December 2007) Indian wildlife authorities torched a huge pile of banned wildlife furs and skins in Kashmir as part of the government’s efforts to stop the illegal trade that threatens to wipe out many of India’s most endangered species.

Ashak Kumar, trustee of the Wildlife Trust of India and International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) partner, lit the pyre. “This is a hugely significant moment. Going up in flames was the largest single agglomeration of wildlife skins anywhere in the world.”

Under orders of the High Court, eight truckloads of stockpiled pelts were burned by state officials in a public display of destruction. Incinerated items included skins, rugs, fur coats and gloves made from tiger, snow leopard, leopard, hill fox, leopard cats, black bear, otters and wolves. All species are protected under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, the Jammu & Kashmir Wildlife Protection Act of 1978 and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES).

The huge stock, estimated to be worth several million pounds, came from more than 125,000 articles surrendered by furriers from the Kashmir Valley region. The fur traders were forced to give up their illegal stash by the court, which will oversee a compensation scheme for the animal skins worth more than £1m.

Robbie Marsland, UK Director of IFAW, witnessed the burning and said: “Like Kenya’s burning of stockpiled ivory in 1989, I hope these flames send a strong message to consumers around the world that the trade in endangered species is illegal and totally unacceptable in today’s society.”

Kashmir has historically been the centre of the wild animal skin trade, with specimens being brought into the Valley from all parts of India. This is demonstrated by the existence of the head of an Asiatic lion, which lives exclusively in the western state of Gujarat, in the stockpile.

The first truckload of illegal skins was burnt in Srinagar in October. The latest burning represents the second stage in the destruction of pelts now numbering 127,326 items held in storage by the Forest Department. The total tally included tiger (45 skins, 44 heads and 14 manufactured items), snow leopard (104 skins, one head and 25 items), black bear (120 skins and five mounted heads), leopard (422 skins, 115 heads and 435 items), jungle cat (33,235 skins and 6,255 items), one lion head and one Tibetan antelope skull.

Ends

Contact:

Monica Sood, WTI Communications, Delhi, tel: +91 11 2636 2025, mob: +91 98106 06228

For images or more information contact Kirsten Knap, Communications Officer, IFAW UK – Tel: 0207 587 6700 Email: kknap@ifaw.org

Notes to editors:

The Central Government of India banned the trade in wildlife skins in 1986. Yet in Kashmir, which had a separate wildlife law, this trade remained legal and licensed, until 2002.

All international trade in tigers, parts and derivatives is banned under CITES.

The International Fund for Animal Welfare (www.ifaw.org) is the international partner organisation for the Wildlife Trust of India (www.wildlifetrustofindia.org).