illegal wildlife trade.

Leaders from 40 states are gathering in London to discuss the illegal wildlife trade.The aim is to draw up a global declaration that will tackle animal trafficking.Conservationists believe there are just 3,200 tigers left in the wild.

Interpol, the international intelligence agency, which will also be present at the meeting, says most of this being driven by organised crime syndicates, who have moved from narcotics and guns onto wildlife.

Much of the demand comes from Asia, where animal products, such as rhino horns, are used in traditional medicine or are bought by the rich as trophies.Delegates from China and Vietnam will be attending the meeting, held at Lancaster House on Thursday.They will be joined by representatives from African states, where a lot of the poaching takes place.

Targets for 2016 asian vultures

After the devastation wrought by a drug on Asian vulture populations, a project hopes to begin releasing captive-bred birds into the wild by 2016.The Saving Asia's Vultures from Extinction (Save) programme says it plans to release up to 25 birds into a 30,000-sq-km drug-free "safe zone". 

 

Diclofenac - used by vets on cattle - was identified as causing a crash in vulture numbers and banned by India.But, says Save, the version for human use is still given illegally to cattle.Diclofenac was banned for use by vets and farmers in 2006 because of its effect on vultures that feed on livestock carcasses.

 Use of diclofenac in animals has been reported to have led to a sharp decline in the population in the Indian Subcontinent, a 95% decline in 2003, 99.9% decline as of 2008.Vultures eat the carcasses of livestock that have been administered veterinary diclofenac, and are poisoned by the accumulated chemical

The link between the anti-inflammatory drug, used to reduce swelling in injured or diseased animals, and the devastating demise of Asia's vulture populations was firmly established in 2004.