Up next in 10
The Ancient Use of Tiger Bones in Traditional Medicine
0 views
Dec 12, 2024
Explore the controversial use of tiger bones in traditional medicine and its impact on tiger populations. Learn about conservation efforts, legal challenges, and the search for sustainable alternatives in this examination of a practice that pits cultural traditions against wildlife preservation.
View Video Transcript
0:00
tiger bones in medicine conservation
0:03
crisis and cultural Clash tiger Bones
0:06
have been apprised ingredient in
0:08
traditional medicine for centuries but
0:11
their use has become one of the most
0:12
controversial topics in Wildlife
0:16
Conservation this ancient practice has
0:20
pushed Tigers to the brink of Extinction
0:23
raising questions about the balance
0:25
between cultural traditions and
0:27
environmental responsibility
0:30
the use of tiger Parts in medicine dates
0:32
back over 1,000 years in some Asian
0:35
cultures particularly in
0:37
China traditional Chinese medicine or C
0:42
has long valued tiger bones for their
0:45
supposed healing
0:47
properties practitioners believed that
0:49
the strength and power of the tiger
0:52
could be transferred to humans through
0:54
consuming various parts of the animal
0:56
with bones being particularly sought
0:58
after
1:00
according to traditional beliefs tiger
1:03
bones were thought to possess pain
1:05
relieving and anti-inflammatory
1:08
properties they were commonly used to
1:11
treat arthritis rheumatism back pain and
1:14
general
1:16
weakness the bones would typically be
1:18
grounded to a powder or boil to make a
1:21
tonic some practitioners also believe
1:24
that tiger bone wine made by steeping
1:27
tiger bones in alcohol could boost
1:29
vitality
1:30
and treat a range of
1:32
ailments however the demand for Tiger
1:35
parts has had a devastating impact on
1:38
Wild Tiger
1:39
populations in the early 20th century
1:42
there were an estimated 100,000 tigers
1:45
in the wild today that number has
1:48
plummeted to fewer than
1:51
4,000 this dramatic decline is largely
1:55
attributed to habitat loss and poaching
1:58
with the demand for traditional medicine
2:00
being a significant driver of illegal
2:03
tiger
2:04
hunting the International Community has
2:07
responded to this crisis with strict
2:10
regulations the convention on
2:12
international trade in endangered
2:14
species of wild FAA and Flora or sites
2:18
banned the international trade of tiger
2:21
Parts in
2:23
1975 many countries have also
2:25
implemented domestic bans on the use and
2:28
sale of tiger products
2:31
despite these efforts the illegal trade
2:34
continues some argue that the use of
2:37
farm Tigers could meet the demand for
2:39
Tiger paths without impacting wild
2:43
populations however conservation groups
2:45
argue that any legal trade would only
2:48
stimulate demand and make it harder to
2:50
enforce bans on products from wild
2:53
tigers in recent years there has been a
2:56
push within the traditional medicine
2:58
Community to find alternatives to
3:01
endangered animal
3:02
products many practitioners now advocate
3:06
for the use of herbal substitutes that
3:08
can provide similar benefits without
3:11
threatening
3:12
Wildlife for instance some suggest using
3:15
herbs like turmeric or boswellia as
3:18
alternatives for treating inflammation
3:20
and pain modern scientific research has
3:24
also cast doubt on the efficacy of tiger
3:28
bone remedies
3:30
while some compounds found in Tiger
3:32
bones may have anti-inflammatory
3:35
properties there is no scientific
3:37
evidence to support their superiority
3:39
over other available
3:42
treatments this has led to increased
3:45
skepticism about the medical necessity
3:47
of using tiger
3:49
Parts conservation efforts have made
3:52
some progress in recent
3:54
years public awareness campaigns have
3:58
helped to reduce demand in some areas
4:00
and stricter law enforcement has made it
4:03
more difficult for poachers and
4:05
traffickers to
4:06
operate several countries have also
4:09
invested in Tiger conservation programs
4:12
working to protect and expand tiger
4:15
habitats today the use of tiger bones in
4:19
traditional medicine stands at a
4:22
Crossroads while deeply rooted cultural
4:25
beliefs persist in some communities
4:28
growing awareness of conservation issues
4:31
and the availability of alternatives are
4:34
changing
4:35
attitudes the future of this practice
4:38
and indeed of tigers themselves will
4:41
depend on our ability to balance respect
4:43
for cultural Traditions with the urgent
4:46
need to protect endangered
4:48
species as we move forward it is crucial
4:52
to continue educating people about the
4:55
impact of using endangered animal
4:58
products and to support the development
5:00
of sustainable
5:02
Alternatives only through these efforts
5:05
can we hope to preserve the Magnificent
5:08
tiger for future Generations while
5:11
respecting the principles of traditional
5:13
medicine that have guided many cultures
5:16
for centuries
#Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine
#Alternative & Natural Medicine
#Other
#Pets & Animals