Tyger Tyger, burning bright

The Chinese Goverment has recently announced that it would be reviewing a 14-year old ban that prevents captive tigers from being killed for use in traditional medicines. Although China has less than 100 tigers in the wild, it has some 5000 or so in breeding farms. The purpose of these breeding farms is claimed by goverment officals "provide an abundant breeding stock for the future re-introduction and restoration of the wild tiger populations in China." In truth, these farms are stockpiling in anticipation of the goverment repeling the ban.

There is something that is abhorent and disgusting in killing these endagered species for, of all things, these supposed benefits.

1.) tiger's tail - when mixed with soap, a cure for skin cancer

2.) whiskers - according to folk legends, increases courage

3.) tiger's skin - sitting on the skin will cure a fever spread by ghosts (but sitting too long will make the user a ghost too)

4.) tiger's heart - consuming this heart will increases one's courage and cunningness

5.) tiger's penis - this most famous one, offers those who eat it sexual prowess

The list goes on, but you get the picture. If a tiger's has in fact some element of medicinal benefits, then at least the issue can be debated but this is almost senseless. But the Chinese are not alone in this. Across the East Sea from the Chinese border, lies Japan.

Japan is currently lobbying the International Whaling Comission (IWC) to lift the moratorium on commerical whaling since 1982. The Japanese, using the lure of financial and economic aid, pressuriese small Caribbean and African nations to vote to lift the moratorium. It is not that the Japanese do not engage in whaling. In fact, under something known as 'scientific whaling', the Japanese are permitted to hunt whales. This supposed 'scientific' expidition is to collect data on these marine mammals (data such as length, weight, health, etc). Of course, the Japanese are permitted to sell the meat from these catches so as to 'compensate' the 'research institutes' that carry out these kills. But, the most incredible thing must be the fact that the Japanese are persuading to lift the ban so that it can once again start to kill endagered species of Fin whales and Humpback whales.

Once again, arguments for whaling usually come from keeping alive 'traditional' and 'cultural' practices. I am skeptical as to how 'traditional' and 'cultural' practices can be kept alive when the whales and the tigers go extinct.

I am quite certain, that the resumption of killing the tigers and whales will resume in the near future. If it does, it is a testament to humanity's greed, ruthlessness and suspension of rationality for age old myths and traditions. We are the poorer for it.

"Tyger Tyger, burning bright,
In the forests of the night;
What immortal hand or eye,
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?" - William Blake, The Tyger (1794)

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