Can we find an alternative to medical products derived from tigers?
How can we find something to deal with this issue without hurting cultural sentiments?
These are some questions I do not know answers to yet. But what I do feel extremely strongly about is that this practice of killing an endangered species is outdated and shouldn’t be continued especially in the welfare of their endangered status.
The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) believes that at least one tiger is killed daily for its use in traditional Chinese medicine.
An increased demand for endangered tiger parts exists throughout the world. Some of the countries that are most involved in the tiger trade are:
- China
- Taiwan
- Japan
- South Korea
- USA
- Great Britain
Side note #1 — In Japan, the local legislation bans trade in endangered species/parts of endangered species but it does not cover products not readily recognizable (such as wine, pills and powders).
Side note #2 — Hong Kong is the main importer of Chinese tiger products, accounting for nearly half of its annual business.
Did you want to get to know some more specific numbers?
- Although they are scarce, trade records indicate the import and export of tiger parts is substantial. The Zoological Society of London believes at least 1,900 kg (4190 pounds) of tiger bone were exported to Japan from Taiwan in 1990, an equivalent to 400–500 tigers.
- According to South Korean immigration statistics, the country imported 3,994 kg (8787 pounds) of tiger bones from Indonesia between 1970 and 1993. The bones of one tiger weigh approximately 10 kilograms (22 pounds).
- Due to increased demand, tiger bone prices have skyrocketed in South Korea, Taiwan and many other countries. The price is estimated to be between $140-$370 per kilogram (2.2 pounds) in U.S. dollars depending on the size of the bones.
- In Taiwan, a bowl of tiger penis soup (to boost virility…umm, what?) goes for $320, and a pair of eyes (to fight epilepsy and malaria) for $170. Powdered tiger humerus bone (for treating ulcers rheumatism and typhoid) brings up to $1,450 lb. in Seoul.
Other that this, I also found out that even though it is the most popular in Asia, consuming tiger parts for medicinal purposes is not limited to Asia. A recent World Wildlife Fund that led its investigation in England found out that most Chinese chemists, craft shops and supermarkets in London, Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool sold products claiming to contain tiger bones.
Like I mentioned before, by now you do realize that the rising demand for tiger parts is real. The rapid increase in price of tiger bone (among other tiger parts) continues to be an irresistible incentive to poachers.
But is all of this worth driving these animals to the verge of extinction?
