Build a tiger online: Web campaign seeks photos to stop tiger trade

Thirty conservation groups have launched a worldwide campaign to collect supporters’ pictures online to create the world’s largest photo mosaic of a tiger.

The mosaic, built with thousands of photos from tiger supporters submitted around the globe, will be unveiled to world leaders in June as they gather to discuss wildlife trade at a meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

Visitors to the mosaic can zoom in on the larger tiger picture and find images submitted of themselves and family and friends.

The mosaic campaign launches as China considers lifting its ban on trade in tiger bones and other body parts, a move that would be disastrous for wild tigers since an increase in poaching would likely follow.

“Your photos and actions could help save tigers,” said Dr Susan Lieberman, Director of WWF’s Global Species Programme.

“The Chinese government is being pressured to lift the ban and be able to sell tiger bone wine, tiger meat and skins. This would make it open season on the fewer than 5,000 tigers left in the wild, with criminals seeing the Chinese market as an easy way to ‘launder’ tigers poached from the wild.”

Supporters will also have the opportunity to send a note to China’s leaders applauding them for their effective 1993 ban on tiger trade and urging them to maintain it. These messages of appreciation will be hand delivered to officials in China.