§ 2.37 p.m.
§ Lord Hardy of Wathasked Her Majesty's Government:
What action they are taking in the international community to ensure the survival of the tiger both in India and in Sumatra.
§ Baroness Farrington of RibbletonMy Lords, last year the Deputy Prime Minister announced government funding of £50,000 for tiger conservation which went to projects in India to support direct action against poaching and illegal trade in tigers, and to Indonesia to help to save the Sumatran tiger. We plan to match this in the coming year in support of tiger conservation projects, bringing spending on tigers over three years to over £150,000.
§ Lord Hardy of WathMy Lords, I thank my noble friend the Minister for that reply which appears to confirm that the Government remain in strong support of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. However, will the Government join in efforts to persuade the governments of Asian countries to advise their populations that tiger parts have no value as aphrodisiacs?
§ Baroness Farrington of RibbletonMy Lords, this January the United Kingdom became the first non-range state to join the Indian-based Global Tiger Forum. We hope that this will encourage other countries to join. As chair of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species Standing Committee, the UK earlier this year led high-level missions to tiger-range and consumer countries. My noble friend may be pleased to hear that through DNA testing it is now possible to trace where tiger parts have 922 been used illicitly. My noble friend will, of course, be aware that those who may in the past have felt the need to rely on tiger parts may now in certain circumstances benefit from Viagra prescribed through the National Health Service.
§ Baroness Gardner of ParkesMy Lords, have any of the tigers in the areas we are discussing been bred in captivity? I have read that tigers from zoos in certain countries have been reintroduced into the wild. Has the UK been involved in any such project?
§ Baroness Farrington of RibbletonMy Lords, London Zoo is involved in such a project. We seek to do everything we can to help in this matter. At best, between 5,000 and 7,000 tigers remain in the wild, of which between 2,000 and 3,000 are in India. Any appropriate tiger project will receive government support.