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Q: Is Chinese Traditional Medicine the main reason for animal species going extinct?
I was watching the documentary film Oceans, then I read up on the New Scientist and other online journals, and it honestly boggles the mind how much animal poaching, fishing, etc. is tied to CTM.
Rays, sharks, seahorses, tigers, rhinos, etc.
Where does CTM stand as sole cause for putting species on the endangered list? How is it that people here don't care about it? It's not even a question of openness to society or international norms... I mean, a lot of the CTM demands come from Hong Kong, which isn't exactly walled off from the world, or lacking in other available options.
I always end up having arguments with people about CTM, but what it does to animals speaks for itself.
As far as contributing factors go, I'd guess for most of the critically endangered animal species, the loss of habitat that goes along with the growth of human populations would be the number one contributing factor, with 'medicinal' usage creating even greater pressures on some specific already endangered soecies.
In most places where traditional medicines hold a great sway (not just Chinese) there is also a lack of environmental awareness, and frequently high levels of poverty combined with population growth.
This article gives a strong overview of the interconnected dynamics at work.
The very thought of the bear-bile thing makes me want to vomit, then hit someone. Poor bears.
