Increasing wealth in Asia has led to higher prices for tiger skins and the body parts used in traditional Chinese medicines. International gangs pay poor local Nepali large amounts of money to kill the cats. The skin and bones are given to middlemen, who pass easily through the border with India, where the major dealers are based. One major problem is that some senior officials help mafia networks involved in the trade.
How are poor locals involved in the tiger trade?
They kill tigers They provide international gangs with information in exchange for money They make clothes from tiger skins They raise tigers for sale