IFAW asserts that while this is a political agreement between China and Canada, Chinese consumers will be the ones to decide the fate of seal products. Once Chinese consumers are made aware of the realities of Canada’s commercial seal hunt, IFAW believes that they will reject the products, thereby making the deal irrelevant.  

Formed just days after the quake, ARCH led by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW- www.ifaw.org) and the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) is the only coalition that set off to provide relief for the animal survivors and address the threat of disease spreading from animals to humans.

“This ruling puts canned hunting right back on the agenda, and further entrenches South Africa’s image of a country that puts animal welfare last while profiteering from an abhorrent form of hunting practice,” said Jason Bell-Leask, Director Southern Africa of the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW – www.ifaw.org).

In whispers, shouts, roars and emotional pleas broadcast on a large video screen, children from tiger range countries in Asia, including Russia, India, China and Indonesia, were joined by youngsters from the Americas, Europe, Africa and the Middle East in calling on participants in the International Tiger Forum to take a stand, make a commitment and “Save the tigers!”

“Poaching fueled by black market trade is the single greatest threat to tigers,” said Fred O’Regan, IFAW president and CEO. “Unless governments put teeth into existing bans and crack down on tiger trade, we can wave goodbye to one of the world’s most magnificent species.”

Wild tiger populations have plummeted by 97% in the past century. In 1900, about 100,000 roamed throughout Asia. As few as 3,000 wild tigers survive today.