I recently shared a story about the Chinese government’s worrying decision to lift a ban on the use of tiger and rhino parts in traditional Chinese medicine. Now, thankfully, China has decided to keep the ban in place for the time being.
The demand for tiger and rhino parts in traditional Chinese medicine is partially driving the rampant poaching that is pushing both species towards extinction. For centuries, this ancient belief system has taught that the parts from certain animals have special healing properties – despite no evidence to support this (besides a possible placebo effect).
Now that products derived from tiger, rhino, and elephant parts have become important status symbols – and more people in countries like China and Vietnam can afford them – ‘medicinal’ animals are under even more pressure than before.
As such, when China announced its plan to lift the ban on tiger and rhino parts, it generated a massive outcry from conservation groups and concerned citizens. They contended that lifting the ban, even partially, would stimulate additional poaching of these already endangered animals. It seems that those protests may have worked.
According to this story by Michael Martina of Reuters, the Chinese government has postponed the lifting of the ban. They have not said how long this delay will last, nor why they have changed directions, but this is still welcomed news. The original article contains more details on this fortunate turn of events.
Nevertheless, we must stay vigilant. The threats to tigers and rhinos are still very real, and we must continue to voice our disapproval of their poaching; we need to make it clear that it is not acceptable to buy products made from endangered animals.
Click Here for the Original Article from Michael Martina of Reuters
Further Reading:
Review: Analysis of Conservation Initiatives Aimed at Reducing Demand for Traded Wildlife
The Jaguar 
I mean, I see a lot of people celebrating this. But I feel what they really are looking over is that it is “postponed” and not “abandoned” or “reverted”. That to me will be something to look forward too.
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Well said. This is a positive turn of events, but we can’t allow ourselves to get comfortable. There’s no telling how long this delay will last, so we need to keep up the pressure.
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Absolutely.
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Poaching animals for medicinal use makes no sense at all! I hope the ban stays intact. I am shocked to know animal parts are used for medicines and poachers are killing innocent lives for this.
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The reason poaching makes sense to some people is that so many are willing to buy potions and other products made from certain animals that those animal parts are worth vast sums of money. The poaching will stop when the buying does, because then it will no longer be profitable.
I too hope that the ban stays intact.
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I get the whole chain now, so if you don’t buy, there is no demand and no demand means no poaching too. You are doing the right thing by spreading awareness. Keep it up and Kudos :)
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Thank you for educating
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That is some kind of relief, they may have postponed it for now but I hope that eventually they will shelve the whole idea of lifting the ban altogether.
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Now that the Chinese government has seen how upset everyone was at the thought of them lifting the ban, hopefully they’ll keep it in place indefinitely. If only a certain other government could demonstrate as much wisdom as the Chinese government has shown in handling this controversy..
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🤞 I hope they do.
Ikr some governments need to stop sleeping on the job, a little wisdom ain’t never hurt nobody.
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