Inside Burma's illegal trade in tigers

Tiger skin for sale in Mong La, Burma. A campaign to double the number of tigers in the wild by 2022 is being discussed at The International Tiger Forum in St Petersburg – the highest-level political meeting ever on protecting a single species Photograph: Adam Oswell/TRAFFIC

Tiger skin for sale in Mong La, Burma. A campaign to double the number of tigers in the wild by 2022 is being discussed at the International Tiger Forum in St Petersburg – the highest-level political meeting ever on protecting a single species Photograph: Adam Oswell/TRAFFIC

The Mae Sai-Tachilek border crossing in Chiang Rai Province in northern Thailand. Goods including wildlife are easily transported from the market in Burma, also known as Myanmar, over the border into Thailand Photograph: Adam Oswell/TRAFFIC

Larger wildlife and big cat traders in Mong La operate out of shop houses and retail outlets where tiger skins like the one in this photo are displayed Photograph: TRAFFIC

A trader in Tachilek openly selling Clouded Leopard skins and other endangered wildlife products Photograph: Adam Oswell/TRAFFIC

A buyer inspects leopard skins at a retail outlet in Mong La, Burma Photograph: Adam Oswell/TRAFFIC

Traders tanning fresh clouded leopard skins in Tachilek Photograph: Adam Oswell/TRAFFIC

Local traders in the central market in Mong La, Burma, display a large range of wildlife products which include bear paws, various wild cat parts, Loris and deer horn Photograph: Adam Oswell/TRAFFIC

Chinese customers discuss the cost of tiger teeth in Mong La Photograph: Adam Oswell/TRAFFIC

A trader inspects an Asiatic lion for sale in Mong La Photograph: Adam Oswell/TRAFFIC

A leopard is displayed to attract tourists in a market at the River Kwai Bridge in Kanchanaburi Province, western Thailand. Continued patronage by tourists and the public helps perpetuate market demand for big cats Photograph: Adam Oswell/TRAFFIC

Ethnic Karen men use a boat to cross the Salween river from Burma to Thailand. The river is used in the transport of illegal goods, including big cats north, into non-government-controlled areas in northern Burma. The 2,800km long river, southeast Asia's longest undammed waterway, is becoming a front line in one of the world's longest-running conflicts – the war between Burma's military junta and the region's ethnic Karen people. The predominantly Christian Karen, who have been fighting for independence for more than 50 years, believe plans by Yangon's State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), as the junta is officially known, to dam the Salween are designed to destroy their jungle homeland and culture Photograph: Adrees Latif/Reuters