Endangered wild species

Tigers are not the only endangered animals at risk of being trafficked in the Himalayas. Wildlife criminals in this region also target leopards, snow leopards, clouded leopards, Asiatic black bears, pangolins, musk deer, rhinos and elephants.

The tigers

Although India and Nepal have made huge strides in tiger conservation, poaching for illegal trade continues to be a major threat to tiger survival.

Leopards

Leopards are the most poached and illegally traded big cats, with India accounting for most of the reported catches of leopard skins and body parts.

---

Asiatic black bears

Asiatic black bears are classified as “vulnerable”. They are poached for their gall bladder and the bile is extracted for use in traditional Chinese medicine.

---

pangolins

Pangolin scales are in demand for traditional Chinese medicine, threatening populations of Chinese and Indian pangolin species.