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The use of tiger=20
bones can be traced to 1500 years ago in China. Tiger =
bone is=20
used to eliminate =E2=80=98dampness=E2=80=99 and disperse cold =
energy according to Chinese=20
medical theory. Proponents of the use of tiger bones say =
that they=20
have anti-inflammatory pain-relief effects for rheumatism, joints =
and=20
muscles; relaxing and strengthening effects for tendons; and =
beneficial=20
effects on blood circulation and liver and kidney functions. =
Although=20
China and other tiger bone consuming countries have banned any =
trade in=20
tigers, and even though China removed tiger bone from its official =
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) pharmacopoeia in 1993, the =
demand for=20
tiger parts, especially for bones, still remains strong.=20
Commercial tiger=20
farmers have reared about 5,000 tigers in captivity since tiger =
farms were=20
established. Each year, an estimated 1,000 cubs are born in=20
commercial tiger farms. In February 2007 individuals from =
the=20
British television network ITN visited Xiongsen Bear and Tiger =
Mountain=20
Farm in Guilin, China, and were offered meat in the farm=E2=80=99s =
restaurant. On analysing the DNA, this turned out to be =
tiger meat =E2=80=93=20
however, the farm=E2=80=99s owner called the analysis =
fraudulent. =20
The=20
Chinese authorities invited =E2=80=98specialists=E2=80=99 to visit =
its captive tiger farms=20
in 2006, and had talks with the Indian government about lifting =
the ban on=20
the use of captive bred tiger parts from China=E2=80=99s =
stockpile. The=20
Chinese government claims that allowing the use of tiger bones and =
other=20
tiger parts from its stockpile will satisfy market demands and =
protect=20
tigers in the wild. On the =
contrary, the=20
positive conservation impact of tiger farming on the wild tiger =
population=20
is questionable, while the poor standards of animal welfare in =
China are=20
undeniable.
Tiger=20
farms are used as a tourist attraction or claim to be part of a =
programme=20
to re-introduce tigers into the wild. It should be noted =
that there=20
is some evidence that all of them are involved in the illegal =
trade in=20
tiger parts. Allowing the =
commercial=20
breeding of tigers in China and lifting the ban on=20
trading in tigers and their parts could mean the end of the=20
species.
In China, animal=20
cruelty knows no boundries. |
![3DWhitespace.gif=20](3D"http://www.naturewatch.eu/imgs/Whitespace.gif") |
![3Dtiger1.jpg=20](3D"http://www.naturewatch.eu/imgs/tiger1.jpg") =20
![3Dtiger2.jpg=20](3D"http://www.naturewatch.eu/imgs/tiger2.jpg")
A half eaten tiger, =
eaten by his=20
starving inmates.
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![3DWhitespaceSmall.gif=20](3D"http://www.naturewatch.eu/imgs/WhitespaceSmall.gif") =
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