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Tiger trade: Conservation experts lash out at ChinaBeijing |
HOMETiger trade: Conservation experts lash out at China Flaying China for the proposed lifting of a 1993 ban on trade in tiger parts, Indian conservation experts have warned that it would lead tothe extinction of the species. In a note submitted to China's State Forestry Administration (SFA) here, the experts said "if the 1993 ban is lifted, it will affect not only the reintroduced tigers but also the wild tigers in China, India and Russia and other range countries leading to the extinction of the species." The SFA, which is under global pressure not to revoke the ban, had invited a nine-member international group of experts to recommend alternative conservation plans for South China tiger. Experts from SFA told the delegation that they are considering if and how a revival in trade in tiger parts from the tiger breeding centres in China, could reduce the pressure on wild tigers in the world. To this, the Indian experts pointed out that the motivation for opening up tiger products trade is "not conservation." "We cannot be a party to China's plan to lift the ban on tiger products trade," Chief scientist, WWF-India, A J T John Singh told PTI here after visiting proposed South China tiger reintroduction sites in Jiangxi and Hunan Provinces. The notion that legal trade will save the species has little logic and is not supported by other examples comparable to the situation of the tiger today, the Indian experts said. "Tiger should not be equated to chicken," John Singh said, adding that there is little evidence that opening up trade saves critically endangered species. Lifting of the ban would tarnish the image of the People's Republic of China in the eyes of the conservation community all over the globe forever," the Indian experts, including Singh, former Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Madhya Pradesh J J Dutta, Member of Uttarkhand Wildlife Advisory Board Dilip Khatau and Vice Chairman of the Corbett Foundation Tiger organs, teeth, bones and penises fetch high prices on the black market, where they are used in traditional Chinese medicines to treat ailments like rheumatism. In other parts of Asia, the bones are considered an aphrodisiac. China had banned domestic trade in all tigers and tiger parts in 1993, but is considering re-opening the business based on farm-bred, captive animals in a bid to meet growing market demand. "It is to satisfy demand, appease consumers and create viability for vested human interests, mainly of tiger farms," the Indian experts said. Singh said reintroduction of South China tiger can only be successful if the ban on tiger trade in bones and other derivatives continues. ----------------------- The following is a recent article on the Guilin Xiongsen Bear and Tiger Farm. Note: the owner of Guilin's Xiongsen Bear and Tiger Park is a Mr ZHOU WEISHENG - Nirmal Ghosh Administration denies China's tiger bone trade ban has been eased A Chinese forestry official confirmed to Xinhua on Wednesday that the country had no intention of easing its 13-year-old ban on the trade of tiger bones which are highly valued for use in traditional Chinese medicines. Spokesman Cao Qingyao of the State Forestry Administration said China was very concerned about the situation of wild tigers worldwide and would continue "A number of international organizations and experts have questioned China's wild tiger protection policies," Cao said. "The government attaches great importance to their queries. A worldwide policy study on how to effectively protect wild tigers and help them multiply is underway," he said. The spokesman said China "welcomed well-researched advice or comments from experts and anyone who cares about the fate of wild tigers". Suspicions that the trade ban imposed in 1993 had been eased spread when tiger bone wine -- also known as "bone-restoring wine" -- reappeared on the Chinese market last year. Xiongsen Distillery, a subsidiary of Guilin's Xiongsen Bear and Tiger Park located in Guilin in southern Guangxi, was approved by the State Forestry Administration to produce tiger bone wine and bear bile wine. The company assured the China Youth Daily that its bone-restoring wine was made with tiger bones. By August, it had used the skeletons of over 400 farmed tigers. The administration didn't comment on the Xiongsen Distillery case. But the use of artificially bred tigers hit headlines last year. The Huifu Fine-food Restaurant in Huangshan City of eastern Anhui Province was reportedly serving special dishes of endangered Chinese alligators in December. The restaurant said it acquired a special license from the State Administration of Forestry to use alligators Only about 150 Chinese alligators are thought to be still living in the wild in Anhui and neighboring Jiangxi and Zhejiang provinces, along the Yangtze river. It is estimated that fewer than 20 wild tigers remain in northeast China and about 30 roam in southwest China along its borders with Myanmar and Laos. Last September, several Chinese tiger parks pressed the government to lift its ban on the trade in tiger products, according to the Shanghai Daily. Cao said that tigers have enjoyed state protection since 1988 and nature reserves have been established in their major habitats. "There has been no change to these policies in the past two decades," he said. In 2004, several dozen rare species were ranked as usable resources by the forestry authorities including spotted deer, blue peacock and ostrich. This move has drawn constant criticism from animal right groups but advocates argue that artificially bred animals of rare species should be used for the good of the people. Source: Xinhua |
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