Tiger medicine ban backed by Chinese
Monday March 15th, 2010
Campaigners have welcomed an official declaration from practitioners of Chinese medicine that they should not use the bones of the endangered big cat, the tiger.
The use of
tiger bones has been banned in China since 1993 - but campaigners have
been alarmed at the extent of the illegal trade in the animals.
The new statement was issued as campaigners met in Qatar for a conference on the international trade in endangered species.
Speaking in Beijing, China, Huang Jianyin, deputy secretary of the World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies, said: "We will ask our members not to use endangered wildlife in traditional Chinese medicine, and reduce the misunderstanding and bias of the international community.
"The traditional Chinese medicine industry should look for substitutes and research on economical and effective substitutes for tiger products, which will improve the international image and status of traditional Chinese medicine and promote TCM in the world."
Professor Xu Hongfa, head of the conservation organisation TRAFFIC in China, said: "The Societies' public declaration is a clear signal that the traditional Chinese medicinal community is now backing efforts to secure a future for wild tigers."
And Dr Colman O'Criodain, of the World Wildlife Fund International, said the statement should enable governments to agree measures to help end the trade.
Tags: Alternative Therapy | Asia | General Health
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