Through an urgent letter addressed to the Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, The CITES Secretariat, the French Government, animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India has demanded investigation in to a website (www.buytigers.com) that claims to sell tigers online.

PETA was shocked learn that the website Buytigers.com claims to sell 5 month old female tigers, the site states that “It was a dream until yesterday, now it's true. Directly from our India breedings, we give you the possibility to buy a tiger ONLINE and without any trouble.” The website claims that they are breeding tigers in India and shipping tigers worldwide since 1984. They also claim to provide a breeding manual.

In the letter addressed to Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government Of India, The CITES Secretariat , the French Government PETA has drawn the attention to the fact that As you are aware tigers are in the Endangered to Critically Endangeredlist of the IUCN and Appendix I of the Convention CITES and are also protected under schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 in India.

“Such websites indicates a disturbing trend, People who claim to sell endangered animals rarely stop there, they are a part of the illegal wildlife trade that is second largest illegal trade only after narcotics and drugs” says PETA India Chief Functionary Anuradha Sawhney.

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Contact: N.G.Jayasimha Jayasimhang@petaindia.org ; (0) 9820993075