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Chinese medicine, ecology and endangered species
photo by Arun Barboza (source: Flickr Creative Commons)
2010 is (roughly) the Year of the Golden Tiger according to the Chinese calendar. An article from the Press Association reports that this alone is enough to inspire increased vigilance against tiger poaching in India – and so the South Asian nation is ‘beefing up’ security due to this concern:
‘They fear an increase in the demand for tiger parts and derivatives widely used in Chinese traditional medicine as the new year could fuel the illegal trade of the animal from Indian forests.’
–Press Association
Bear’s bile, tiger’s teeth and rhino’s horn are some of the more disturbing ingredients used in traditional Chinese medicine, a system dating back thousands of years, which is now more widespread than ever. Shark fin soup and dried seahorses are perhaps less shocking to some, but are still cause for considerable ecological concern. Traditional Chinese medicine – or TCM – is an industry worth as much as 30 billion US dollars and is growing in popularity. For example, Vietnam has a growing market for rhino horn and many believe it can cure cancer.
‘A report commissioned by CITES and produced by IUCN Rhino Specialist Group and TRAFFIC confirmed last month that Vietnam has become an end-use market for wildlife products in general and rhino horns in particular.’
–Than Nien Daily
Thankfully most TCM isn’t based on the body parts of endangered species. In fact, the American College for TCM is encouraging conservation and the use of substitute ingredients, but poaching and demand continue.
Watch the following CNN report on China’s booming TCM trade and the endangered species that are its casualties.
CNN’s Emily Chang reports on efforts to fight the use of endangered animal parts in traditional Chinese medicine.
by Graham Land
Additional resources:
Tags: Chinese, CNN, medicine, rhino, rhino horn, TCM, tiger, traditional, traditional Chinese medicine
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I know. It’s also a totally different world view. I try to respect Chinese and Indian traditional medicine, but it’s hard to when it isn’t based on any kind of test, but rather just a religious-like tradition. Fine, drink some awful tasting tea, but the killing of endangered species in some unfounded hope of a magical cure or benefit is just astoundingly superstitious and cruel.
It always amazes me, what some people are able to believe in to fight their fears of losing youth and beauty… This sounds like a description of a medieval market. Totally pathetic.
Thanks, Robert.
Best of luck with your mission!
amazing post!!!
Many thanks for doing so much legwork for me.
Am on a one man mission to try and close up Canada’s borders to endangered animal body parts.