The illegal wildlife trade is one of the greatest threats to all Asian big cats – tigers, leopards, snow leopards and Asiatic lions, as well as lesser-known species including clouded leopards and the Asiatic cheetah. For that reason, Asian big cats are some of the most strictly protected animals under international law and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, better known as Cites.
But the illegal trade in big cats remains a global issue that affects a diverse range of countries. And, concerningly, it continues to evolve. Major global transport hubs, such as the UK’s Heathrow Airport, are required to remain constantly vigilant for the smuggling of big cat body parts and other wildlife contraband.
