Viagra can save tigers from extinction?

Nature conservationists hope that Western advances can convince some people to stop using parts of rare animals to treat serious diseases.

For thousands of years, Chinese Oriental medicine has used parts of precious animals and has the power to make medicine. Among these are remedies for tiger penis to treat physiological weakness.

Recently, China's economy has developed, many people have money, so hunting animals for medicine and using luxury goods for interior decoration tends to increase. But it was found that drugs such as Viagra were the phenomenon of hunting down the endangered animals that had fallen down.

Drugs Viagra will save tigers in China from extinction. (Illustration)

William von Hippel, a psychologist at New South Wales University, said: 'We have not examined quantitatively very well, but we can see that Viagra's quick and immediate effect seems to be all who disliked Oriental medicine accepted '.

Von Hippel is a famous author on the study of the consumption of Viagra in the Chinese market, published in the Journal of Environmental Protection (Environmental Conservation).

Von Hippel's work has suggested that middle-aged Chinese men have started using some other Western medicine to treat physiological weaknesses instead of tiger, seal penis and velvet penis. deer but also people who continue to use traditional medicine to treat other diseases such as tiger bone bones. So the tiger hunt for medicine only reduced but not ended.

Of the original eight species of tiger, there have been 3 species extinct completely in the past 60 years, an average of 1 species every 20 years disappears in nature, according to the wildlife protection group named is 'Tiger is in danger' . About 20 tigers in China and 1,200 in India are still alive, only half of the number of the previous decade, while in the early 20th century there were 100,000.

Can Viagra become a popular stimulant in this market?

According to Dr Kineta Hung, Hong Kong Christian University, it is possible. Chinese people are accustomed to using western medicine and even in Chinese medical schools, they must study Western medicine in the first year, so there is no barrier between Eastern and Western medicine. Viagra is cheaper than traditional medicine, he said:

"Currently the tiger and rhino horns are very expensive, but not necessarily real. Only very rich people can buy them while Viagra is very affordable. Also the wealthy overseas Chinese also contribute. Destroy domestic animals such as elephants, tigers, rhinos, sharks and many other rare animals'.

Von Hippel added: "Pharmaceutical products from rare animals are only a part, although they can be called mainly. But the need to decorate to prove wealth is also significant. A piece of real carved ivory Price of $ 20,000, while a fake ivory, looks hard to distinguish only $ 50. '

However, the authors also acknowledge that the movement of protecting the environment and nature, against unhealthy habits and luxury consumption in China, has been highly appreciated, though it is necessary to push further to prevent it. rare animal poaching. Many world famous fashion houses refuse to use fur and other products from rare animals to create their fashions. It can be considered as a positive contribution.