Tiger Traffic was broadcast in the UK on Tuesday, 8 March, 2005 at 2100 GMT on BBC Two.
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The comments published on this page reflect the balance of views we received.
 |  Thank you for making and broadcasting this programme |
Tigers are the most beautiful animals on Earth and I think it is disgusting that they are ripped to pieces by poachers. There should be stronger laws to prevent all animals becoming extinct and to punish the people who are directly threatening their lives by poaching or buying the products.
Rebecca, Glasgow
I think they should put up a fund to raise money to stop poaching, and higher penalties and rules should be introduced towards this matter.
Nathan, Dorchester
We all need to help, do more than just watch the programme and say it is terrible! Do something! We need to save the tigers, its habitat and its food.
Nicole, Larbert, Stirlingshire
Thank you for making and broadcasting this programme. Many people believe poaching and trafficking is no longer a serious problem. Programmes like this make the broader public aware, and tourists to these areas can at least behave responsibly by not buying animal trinkets. However, the main responsibility continues to lie with the governments to punish and prosecute the criminals with tough sentences. Deterrence is half the battle.
Kiran, London
When are we humans going to realise that if we keep killing these animals for our own selfish means, not for survival of any kind, the species will die out? What right have we to decide we own the earth? Animals have been around a lot longer, maybe one day the tables will be turned and the hunters become the hunted.
Samantha Nash, Wigan
| These programmes are extremely important to us all, even if you are not an animal lover |
The worldwide community must do all it possibly can to preserve these beautiful creatures for future generations to come. Poaching must stop immediately!
Graeme Farlow, Glasgow
It might be ideal to heavily fine the street sellers, and close them down. The dealers and poachers should have a long prison sentence. Tigers are a beautiful animals, it would be a great shame to lose them.
Mr M J Raquet, Fareham
I realise that making programmes such as this is difficult and dangerous. These programmes are extremely important to us all, even if you are not an animal lover. These beautiful animals are dying for greed, our greed. They have been here much longer than us and hopefully will still be around when we have destroyed ourselves. Although certain sections of the rich will no doubt say otherwise as they are the ones who fund this trafficking. This programme should also be shown on more than one channel and possibly earlier so more people catch it. Only education and other means of income for these poachers and traffickers will stop this.
Jeff Brooks, Swansea, UK
I think that poachers who kill any animals illegally should be fined $1000 and be imprisoned for life at least.
Arun (aged 10), Geneva, Switzerland
Any measure taken to assure the survival of these amazing cats is by all means approved by anyone who cares for the future of the world.
Salvador Zorrilla Alcala, Mexico
I believe there are a number of steps which should be taken to stop poaching.
1. Anyone selling products made from tigers should not only be fined a large amount, such as �10,000, but imprisoned for a minimum of five years and named publicly.
2. Countries who allow such products to be sold are to be named and shamed.
3. Large rewards should be offered to those who can give any information as to who are the poachers, or anyone connected with the trade.
4. Officials involved should be named publicly, removed from office and made to pay more than they would make.
5. Those who work to protect the tigers should be paid well.
We need to make people realise that there is no benefits in killing tigers or any other protected animals.
L Rezazad, London
| I do not think I have ever been so upset watching a programme about animals for a long time |
It is nice to finally see an effective approach to end this brutal and awful trade. I applaud Steve Galster and all his associates' efforts.
Daniel Gerrard, Sheffield, UK
Excellent programme, could do with far more just like it shown at regular times. Information on how to help the charities would be good. I am sure a lot of school children would be keen to raise funds and spread awareness. Well done to all those involved, keep it up.
Kath Rosenthal, Wisbech, UK
This programme about Inspection Tiger was truly gripping. I am just so grateful that there are people in the world like Steve Galster who have the courage and the dedication to tackle this terrible tiger trafficking. They have to have mental as well as physical stamina to keep up the battle against the dealers and the people in authority who are more interested in money than the stunning and precious wildlife in their countries. I think that tougher penalties and trying to find alternative means of making a living for the poachers who are often very poor is crucial. Is there anything that people like us can do who watch these programmes but can not do anything on the ground?
J Lewis, Bingley, West Yorkshire, UK
I do not think I have ever been so upset watching a programme about animals for a long time. How can such a beautiful animal be treated so badly. What can we do to try and stop this horrible trade?
Laura Celino, Glasgow
All the countries where tigers originate should pass a law to publicly punish the poachers, that way it would deter anyone else from doing the same. The punishment they give the poachers is not sufficient. Giving a fine is not enough to stop them.
James Kearney, Merseyside, UK
Tiger hunting is absolutely terrible. It must come to a stop. How can people be so ignorant?
Theo, London
I do not think there is a thing that we can do to help the tiger if the country where they live is not going to do anything. They might even be getting money to close their eyes to what is going on. If only you could get more people interested in the world around them and not what is in it for them.
Janice Moreton, Scunthorpe, UK
Brilliant programme. I take people to southern Africa on safari and to see tigers killed and suffering at the hands of people made me so angry. They belong in the wild - alive and free. When the hell are we going to learn? How can we do more to help?
Kevin Morris, Haslemere, UK
I found the programme interesting, but very alarming and sickening to see how human beings could treat this magnificent creature. What can we, the public, do to help without just handing money over to charities and hoping for the best. It just makes you want to be out there helping to stamp out the cruelty and what it stands for. I am sure people would much sooner see the tiger alive than just some skin hung up, or its bones crushed up to make a soup for someone with more money than sense.
Stephen Dove, Sutton in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire
I had absolutely no idea that such poaching was going on. Programmes like this should be shown more often and worldwide to inform people like me that this is going on. I think that it is disgusting and inhumane. The poachers should be prosecuted and the buyers should be served with the worst sentence possible. If the buyers were caught and imprisoned then the poachers would have no one to poach for.
I also suggest that like cancer research, RSPCA and NSPCC appeals which appear on TV, Tiger Traffic should also have a similar appeal for raising money to help stop this ridiculous and disgusting practice from going on. I was deeply hurt, upset and traumatised by what I saw. Please show more of these programmes and encourage fundraising to start to help the aid workers catch these maniacs who are destroying these beautiful animals.
Shida Pirzaman, Harrow, Middlesex
Congratulations on tonight's brilliant, if disturbing, programme on tiger poaching. At least, thank God there are people like Steve Galster who are prepared to get to the bottom of the whole rotten business i.e. the businessmen and the governments who protect them. I hope they will be publicly shamed and ostracised by countries who care. This World series is great stuff, away from the usual parochial nonsense we are bombarded with. Keep up the good work team!
Mike Smith, Kingston-upon-Thames, UK
Thailand, Cambodia and others desperately need international intervention NOW to stop this trade in wild animals. The only way we are likely to make any headway in Asia, Africa and South America, to end this cruelty and carnage, is to pump money from the developed West into supporting these poorer economies, something which will affect us all. Do we care enough to do this? I hope so, I do hope so.
Rosalind Toman, Bideford, Devon
Although I found this programme very upsetting, I think it should be repeated on BBC One as well, so more people can see the plight of these beautiful animals. How can people hunt these tigers to extinction. I think the dedication of Steve and his teams is wonderful, I just wish I had money to donate to their cause. Well done to the BBC for a very sad but interesting programme.
Sue, Yelverton
An excellent programme, but until governments take the problem seriously, the poaching will continue. The penalties are inadequate, as are the resources to tackle the problem. Everyone from the poacher to the purchaser should be penalised to such an extent that they really feel it. Small fines are insufficient deterrents to these people. Educating local poor populations and tourists/purchasers is one way forward, but it must be backed up by severe penalties. The supply chain must be broken.
Robin Lilley, Cromer, Norfolk, UK
This has been one of the best documentaries in "real" wildlife I have seen in the last year or so. These, unfortunately, are the sorts of wildlife documentaries that people need to watch in order to make them aware of what is going on beyond the pink world of Bill Oddie. Note, I am not criticising Bill , I think he is great!
Maria, Horsham, West Sussex
I have just watched the documentary on BBC Two, and it made me more aware of the urgency to prevent more killings of these beautiful majestic creatures. What are humans doing to this planet? We should have more programmes like this, as I think we all need to be aware of the plight of animals that are becoming extinct through human greed.
Marcella, London
Well done BBC for highlighting the problem on tiger trafficking. Please can we have more of these types of programmes highlighting other endangered species.
People involved in this industry have no idea of the devastating impact that their actions have on endangered species, which are already depleting due to habitat loss. The next generation will grow up only to see these truly magnificent animals in captivity or in books.
My total admiration goes to those risking their lives in Inspection Tiger and Animal Aid and all the other many organisations that fight the battle against the international trafficking industry.
Catherine Unsted, Huntingdon, UK Tiger Traffic raised some essential questions for conservationists working in the field. People involved in environmental issues cannot afford to rely on research and static reports/recommendations if many of the global conservation crises are to be tackled. Steve Galster's comment about "studying the world to death" certainly communicated this concern, the future of conservation in many cases should focus on law enforcement, local initiatives and strong action, and conservation funding should reflect this direction.
With so much at stake, the time for definitive action is not just upon us, but is rapidly passing us by. I hope that the efforts in Russia and South East Asia can gather momentum and find increasing levels of support within the countries involved. Frequently, conservation initiatives now find themselves in a tight corner. Little room to manoeuvre, little time in which to act, and very few opportunities to please everyone. I hope that the commitment of people working in the field, dealing with conservation problems head-on, will be increasingly rewarded by success and recognition.
Helen Meredith, Brighton, UK
Just when I thought television was going down the tube, the BBC broadcast this magnificent programme. Those involved with the protection of the tiger were brave beyond belief. A truly excellent film that will hopefully inspire people to take action now.
James Smith, Christchurch, Dorset, UK
I saw tonight's episode of This World, on tiger poaching, and was shocked by what I saw and heard. As a great believer in sustaining the natural world, I applaud the efforts of the activists who are trying ever harder to prevent people illegally trading artefacts derived from big cats.
This is what I pay my licence fee for. I cannot begin to express my gratitude that you have made and broadcast this programme. You made us aware of the global industry this is, the corruption involved, the lack of governmental action together with demonstrating the reality of what has to be done to stop the tiger in the wild becoming a memory. Please repeat this on BBC One. You can be sure I will be contacting those charities and individuals shown on the programme with offers of my support.
Alexander Fearn, St Helier, Jersey
It is appalling that so many people worldwide would support this shameful practice, or that they would price such artefacts so highly. Even worse is the fact that the traders usually get off so lightly. The authorities in affected countries should try and take more notice of such things. Should bringing down crime not be one of the central tenets of any political regime? I only hope the activists' efforts are better rewarded soon. The tiger is such a majestic creature it would be unthinkable if it was to become extinct simply because people want its skin for decorating their houses.
Robert Paterson, Hertfordshire
Thank you for opening my eyes to this issue. I had no idea that poaching was becoming so devastating to our wildlife. Although I have always been against hunting animals, I have never been very motivated to do something about it, but this programme changed that. I think that tigers are beautiful creatures and anybody that would want to purchase their skin or bones as a fashion accessory is sick.
Chelsey Burdon, Leeds, UK
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