Oct. 15 (Bloomberg) -- Markets in Myanmar are selling the skins, teeth, claws and bones of endangered tigers and other wild cats, the World Wildlife Fund said.

``The sale of endangered cat parts, including tigers of which only about 4,000 remain, is an appalling and brazen violation of the law in Myanmar and should not be tolerated,'' said Susan Lieberman, director of WWF International's Species Program.

Body parts from almost 1,200 protected species, including 107 tigers as well as the Clouded Leopard, Marbled Cat and Asiatic Golden Cat, were found to be on sale, according to WWF surveys.

Myanmar is a signatory to the United Nations Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora that bans the sale of such animals and is legally bound by its provisions. The country formerly known as Burma, ruled by the military since 1962, is perceived as the second-most corrupt of 180 states surveyed this year, according to Berlin-based Transparency International.

``This can only be the tip of the iceberg,'' said Chris Shepherd, who coordinated the investigation conducted by TRAFFIC, a wildlife trade monitoring network supported by the WWF. Cat parts found in markets ``were openly displayed for sale and the dealers quite frank about the illegality of the trade, which suggests a serious lack of law enforcement,'' he said in a statement today.

China, Thailand

Three of the four markets monitored in the surveys are located on borders with China and Thailand, the WWF said, with prices quoted in yuan, baht and dollars. Surveys began in 1991 and ended in 2006, the WWF said.

Parts from non-protected species such as the Fishing Cat, Leopard Cat and Jungle Cat, were also on sale, it said, adding that globally threatened species were offered in significantly larger numbers than non-threatened species.

Some parts of tigers and wild cats are used in traditional Chinese medicine to improve health, while others, including skins and skulls, are sold as trophies.

``Immediate action to close down these markets and prosecute those engaged in the trade of protected wildlife is essential,'' said Shepherd.

Myanmar's legislation must be tightened and better cross- border cooperation is needed with neighbors, particularly Thailand and China, he said.

``Most of these species have very low population numbers and will not be able to withstand the amount of poaching that is feeding this trade,'' Lieberman said in the statement.

To contact the reporter on this story: Michael Heath in Sydney at mheath1@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: October 14, 2008 22:24 EDT