| Saving The Big Cats |
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| Written by Jason Peters |
| Saturday, 02 April 2011 12:43 |
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Description: An Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) and Wildlife Protection Society of India investigation throughout the Tibetan plateau revealed a staggering trade in tiger, leopard, snow leopard and otter skins, a major driving force behind the poaching of wild tigers. Huge volumes of tiger skins were used to decorate costumes worn openly at festivals throughout the region, those wearing them unaware of the plight of the tiger in the wild and not making the connection between the brutal slaughter of the animals and the skins they wore on their costumes. This 2006 film used Tibetan Buddhist sayings and a juxtaposition of images to get this message across to consumers. Language: Tibetan, with Tibetan & English subtitles ! Running time: 3.31 minutes Positive results: The film was distributed by the Khawa Karpo Tibet Cultural Centre at the Kalachakra, in Southern India, a major event in the Tibetan Buddhist calendar. His Holiness the Dalai Lama was present and the filmʼs images of Tibetans wearing tiger and leopard skins spurred him to say that he was ashamed by the continued use of skins and he went on to urge his fellow Tibetans to stop wearing them. With thousands of Tibetans from Tibet and western China present at the Kalachakra - where 500 copies of the film were distributed and many people saw it at screenings - his message swiftly spread. In addition, Vajara, Tibetʼs most popular rock band, distributed the film in bars and venues across Lhasa to reach the young generation; a Tibetan NGO circulated more than 200 copies in the Sichuan Province of China, where the massive Litang horse festival takes place; and more were sent to organisations and individuals across China who are engaged in awareness-raising. Subsequently, Tibetans burned their animal skin costumes at large gatherings in the pan-Tibetan region and it was reported that the open sale of skins had massively reduced, with prices plummeting due to lack of demand. Other Achievements: The film was a finalist in the Wildscreen 2006 festival. Contact/Links: EIA - London, 62/63 Upper Street, London N1 0NY, UK Supporting Articles: http://www.tibetinfonet.net/content/update/1 Non-Profit DVD Availability:
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Title: Saving The Big Cats - Stopping The Skin Trade
