In the last five years the tiger population in India has halved. The most optimistic numbers say there may be as little as 1300 tigers left in India. Urgent action is needed. Efforts by India have been unsuccessful at preventing poaching due to increased demand for tiger products from China and the Far East.

The extinction of tigers is not only India’s problem; it would be a mammoth loss to us all, so I would ask the Commission to clarify the funding and technical assistance that the EU can give to wildlife and particularly to create new preservation habitats to promote protection and breeding.

Further, will the Commission be willing to take up with China the issue of illegal trade and curbing demand for tiger-related products across the world?