China makes a U-turn on legalizing tiger and rhino trade following international outcry

[Omaha Steve]

Source: W Post

By Gerry Shih

HONG KONG — China has halted a directive that partially legalized the domestic trade in farmed rhinoceros and tiger parts, two weeks after the move drew a torrent of criticism from conservation groups.

A senior official in China’s cabinet said in a state media interview published Monday that implementation of an October directive reviving the market for the endangered animal parts has been “postponed after study.”

The official, Ding Xuedong, did not specify how long the delay would last. But the interview, which was published in English and Chinese by the official Xinhua News Agency, was cheered by international conservation advocates who saw it as an acknowledgement by Chinese leaders that they made a misstep.

“The Chinese government has long been dedicated to the cause of wildlife protection and has made achievements recognized by the world,” Xinhua quoted Ding, a top official in China’s State Council, as saying.


Customs officers stand next to an intercepted rhino horn shipment during a news conference in Hong Kong on Nov. 15, 2011. (Bobby Yip/Reuters)

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/china-makes-a-u-turn-on-legalizing-tiger-and-rhino-trade-following-international-outcry/2018/11/13/ce9c0278-e6f3-11e8-bd89-eecf3b178206_story.html?utm_term=.fd27e9e2abe3

[jberryhill]

1. Another win for big pharma against traditional folk medicine

[sinkingfeeling]

4. Because killing nearly extinct animals is somehow great folk medicine?

[jberryhill]

5. Well, a lot of folks seem to like folk medicine

The use of tiger bone and rhino horn, among other endangered animal parts, illustrates that the categorical approval of "traditional" over systematically tested and proven remedies, is not a reliable guide to treatment.

[turbinetree]

2. I just wonder what the Chinese would do if the Panda was farmed and killed

think they would go ballistic .....................are they not also involved in shark fins...................

[jberryhill]

6. Ah, you haven't heard of the panda hunting safaris

[turbinetree]

7. I did not know that..................

[jberryhill]

8. Because I just made it up

[catsudon]

9. well

shark fin has been banned from Chinese official banquets for awhile now, but yeah, that probably won't do much to put a dent on them going to Hong Kong, China, Singapore. The top three exporters being Thailand, ironically China, and Indonesia (with USA as #9).

source 2013 TRAFFIC study.

I had shark fin soup before, it s nothing special like Gordon Ramsay said, and you can substitute it with anything else, the soup would be just as delicious.

can't say the same about veal thought, it tastes different.

never had foie gras to form an opinion on its taste, but i don't think i would like it.

the chinese needs to move on to cialis or viagra for sure.

[sinkingfeeling]

3. I don't want a postponement. I want a permanent ban.