Which animal is extensively hunted for use in traditional Chinese medicine?
… Rhinoceroses, tigers, sun bears, and several other species are frequently used in traditional Chinese medicine. 51 Elephants are hunted for their ivory.
What animals are killed for medicine?
Poaching for traditional medicines is also a major cause of decimation of wild populations of a large number of threatened species.
- Asian Elephants.
- Asian Tigers.
- Banteng Feral Cattle.
- Chinese Alligators.
- Grevy’s Zebras.
- Hawks-Bill Sea Turtles.
- Musk Deer.
- Sun Bears.
Will mainstreaming traditional Chinese medicine threaten wildlife?
“There are a number of species that are already threatened or critically endangered because of the traditional medicine trade. Any growth in that area or in demand for these species could be devastating,” he says, pointing to pangolins, big cats, rhinos, and other threatened animals.
Why does China have so many endangered species?
China has the highest biodiversity outside of the tropics. Yet China’s 10\% economic growth rate has a high environmental cost, killing wildlife both directly and indirectly. China’s growing upper and middle classes has been increasing demand for many traditional foods and medicines that use animal parts.
What are endangered species used for?
From providing cures to deadly diseases to maintaining natural ecosystems and improving overall quality of life, the benefits of preserving threatened and endangered species are invaluable.
Which animal is hunted for its meat and horns that are used in traditional Chinese medicine?
Pangolins are believed to be the world’s most trafficked wild mammal, killed for their meat or for use as traditional medicine.
What are the disadvantages of traditional Chinese medicine?
Some Chinese herbal products have been contaminated with toxic compounds, heavy metals, pesticides, and microorganisms and may have serious side effects. Manufacturing errors, in which one herb is mistakenly replaced with another, also have resulted in serious complications.
Is traditional Chinese medicine threatened by endangered animal trade?
Supporters and practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine have warned that the discipline is threatened by those who continue to trade in endangered animals.
Can we stop the use of Endangered Wildlife in traditional medicine?
Moves are also afoot globally to stop all use of endangered wildlife in traditional medicine. Three Chinese NGOs and two global organisations recently proposed that all members of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) support a halt to the use of threatened species in traditional medicine.
What animals are used in traditional Chinese medicine?
It has been a major part of traditional Chinese culture and continues to play an important role in medical treatment in China today. TCM uses approximately 1,000 plant and 36 animal species, including the tiger, rhinoceros, black bear, musk deer, and sea horse; the tiger, rhinoceros, and sea horse are endangered.
What are China’s laws on endangered species?
For the most part though, China’s laws on endangered species focuses on prohibiting commercial exploitation, which only makes up only for a part of why these species are endangered in the first place. Legislators must address the root problems of China’s industrialization practices if they hope to save endangered species in their country.