Tigers, Royalty, and Chinese Medicine
......Rooted in customs and
beliefs going back centuries, Traditional Chinese Medicine to this day drives
trade in a number of endangered species. Rather than its magnificence in the
wild, it is instead the sum of the tiger's body parts which is prized most
highly, with its eyes used to treat epilepsy, its bones to treat rheumatism,
its brain to treat acne and, most famously, its penis for use as an
aphrodisiac.
Encouragingly the World Federation
of Chinese Medicine Societies did ask its members to stop using tiger parts,
and parts from any endangered wildlife back in 2010, but demand nonetheless
remains high. Rarity has given tiger-based remedies a hefty price-tag, seen as
prestigious resources for the wealthy and privileged and worryingly it seems
this status is behind the demand. And as the Chinese economy booms it sounds
the death knell for tigers worldwide.
We can't lay the blame entirely at
China's feet however. Initially it was royalty, be it Mughals, Maharajas or
British which decimated tiger populations with trophy hunting, and even today,
although driven by the Chinese medicine trade, poachers on the ground are not
being tackled efficiently. It may seem a hopeless cause, and yes some people
may say that it is one that the conservationists won't win, but tigers do have
something else fighting their corner. Tourism. And although the might of
Chinese tradition will be very difficult to change; what tourism can do is help
bring an end to tiger poaching, playing a vital role in stopping the supply of
tiger parts and bolstering the fight of those conserving and protecting these
beautiful animals.
To read the full report, click here.
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