KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysa (AP) — Authorities have seized an average of nine tigers each month over the past five years, highlighting a worsening trafficking crisis. A report by TRAFFIC warns that criminal networks are evolving faster than conservation efforts can respond. The global wild tiger population has plummeted to an estimated 3,700-5,500. Despite international protection, tiger trafficking is accelerating and increasingly targeting whole animals. Experts link this to captive-breeding operations and rising demand for exotic pets and taxidermy. Most seizures occur in countries with wild tiger populations, but incidents are also reported in places like Mexico and the U.S. The report emphasizes the need for strong international cooperation to combat this crisis. By Eileen Ng, Associated Press Banner image: of a tiger in India. Image by Rhett A. Butler/Mongabay. This article was originally published on Mongabay

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