3019/2025/WEB ‘Illegal hunting of tigers’

Tigers, one of the world's most iconic and endangered species, continue to face a severe threat from illegal hunting and wildlife trafficking. Despite international protections, poaching remains a lucrative criminal enterprise, driven by demand for tiger parts in illegal markets. Addressing this crisis requires a coordinated effort that combines investigative expertise, intelligence-sharing, and enforcement strategies. This webinar brings together professionals from law enforcement to discuss best practices in detecting, preventing, and dismantling illegal hunting networks. Throughout this session, experts will exchange insights on practical investigative techniques, intelligence-gathering methods, and cross-border collaboration to combat tiger poaching. By fostering dialogue and sharing successful case studies, we aim to strengthen global efforts against wildlife crime and enhance our collective ability to track, apprehend, and prosecute those responsible.

This “Illegal hunting of tigers” webinar is offered in cooperation with EnviCrimeNet. Case examples of investigating illegal hunting of tigers and unauthorised possession of tiger cubs will be presented from Slovakia and the Czech Republic.  These case studies will show intelligence collection and risk assessment practice, cross-border investigation possibilities and opportunities, as well as limitations of related international law enforcement cooperation.

By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:

• Understand the global scope of illegal tiger hunting and the challenges involved in combatting wildlife trafficking;
• Identify and leverage opportunities for cross-border collaboration in wildlife law enforcement;
• Analyse case studies from Slovakia and the Czech Republic to learn from real-world examples of tackling illegal tiger hunting and unauthorised possession of tiger cubs.

EMPACT training activity

Combating new forms of organised crime requires more cooperation between police and gendarmes, customs officers, border guards, judges, and prosecutors. EU institutions, agencies and Member States work together to tackle organised and serious international crime through a permanent and key instrument: the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT).

CEPOL plays a crucial role in the EMPACT mechanism through the provision of specialised training and the identification of training needs within each common security threat. Every year, CEPOL provides a comprehensive training package for each common EU crime priority consisting of onsite, online and exchange training activities.

Check more of CEPOL's EMPACT training activities here.