A zoo in China has come under fire for selling tiger urine, which it claims can treat rheumatism and other health problems.
The Yaan Bifengxia Wildlife Zoo in Sichuan, southwestern China, is selling urine from Siberian tigers for $7 per 250g bottle. The zoo markets the urine as a cure for conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, sprains, and muscle pain. The recommended usage is to mix it with white wine and slices of ginger, which can be taken orally, but it cautions to discontinue if any allergic reactions are experienced.
Although the zoo claims the product has "good therapeutic effects," an anonymous pharmacist from a traditional Chinese medicine hospital said that, to him, there are no proven medicinal benefits, per SCMP. Selling tiger urine, which the zoo claims to collect in a basin after the tigers urinate, is scientifically unbacked and unsupported by the medical profession.
Despite the public outcry, the zoo maintains that it has the necessary business permits to sell tiger urine.
Nevertheless, the selling is restricted only to a maximum of two bottles per day. In the past, the zoo gave tiger urine as a reward in a reality show that was aired in 2014. The alleged medical benefits have become the subject of heated debate on social media with some visitors weighing in on their mixed feelings about the product. Some report no noticeable effect after use, while others remain curious about its potential benefits.
Concerns Raised for a Chinese Zoo Selling Tiger Urine
There is also the critical issue of whether selling tiger urine actually threatens conservation efforts.
Per Global Times, these animals are seriously endangered, mainly due to rampant illegal poaching and habitat loss. The advertisement by the zoo to sell tiger urine, along with the ambiguous nature of sanitary conditions in collecting such urine, has the potential to sabotage conservation efforts while sending the wrong message about animals and their welfare.
Traditional Chinese medicine, which uses various animal products in its practice, is frequently criticized for its use of endangered species. Though tiger bones were once used for the treatment of rheumatism, the Chinese government banned their use years ago, as the population of the species was dwindling.
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