NJ Tiger-Tracking Measure Advances

Legislation that would create a registry and tracking system for captive tigers living in New Jersey has advanced with unanimous bipartisan support.

Sen. Ray Lesniak's bill aims to ensure tiger bones and other body parts don't end up on the black market.

Tiger claws, teeth and whiskers are marketed illegally, but bones are the most valuable on the black market because they are believed by some to have medicinal value.  Poaching and loss of habitat are the biggest threats to the world's dwindling tiger population.

The measure that advanced Thursday requires environmental regulators to keep track of the tigers and for the animals to be micro-chipped.

The information would help police track those responsible if tiger parts are sold illegally.  Lesniak hopes the legislation will serve as an international model.

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