Shock as China Legalizes Medicinal Trade in Rhino Horns and Tiger Parts

Shock as China Legalizes Medicinal Trade in Rhino Horns and Tiger Parts

6 years ago
Anonymous $L9wC17otzH

https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/shock-as-china-legalizes-medicinal-trade-in-rhino-horns-and-tiger-parts/

In a move that shocked and horrified many conservationists, China this week opened up two legal markets for rhino horns and tiger body parts. Under China’s new rules, which overturn a 25-year-old ban, farm-raised tiger and rhino “products” can be approved for use in medical research or by accredited doctors in hospitals, despite the fact that the body parts have no known medicinal value. China also approved limited trade in antique tiger and rhino products.

China didn’t throw the door open for all trade in these products, and in fact banned all other sales of rhino and tiger parts. The announcement says the two new legal markets will be highly regulated and controlled and adds that illegal items will be confiscated. China also banned the sale of any tiger or rhino products currently in personal collections.