Increase in seized illegal wildlife remedies
THE amount of medicinal products containing illegal wildlife tissue seized by EU authorities has risen sharply in the last six years, according to monitoring group Traffic, and includes items from a range of animals including tigers, bears and snakes.
EU authorities made 952 seizures of illegal wildlife medicines in 2016, up from 174 in 2011, an analysis showed.
A range of seized medicinal items found at a garage near Britain’s Heathrow Airport contained ingredients, including Asiatic bears’ stomach bile and tiger bone and a threatened species of South African cactus.
The medicines, such as Red Ant, a popular remedy from China that contains seahorse as a key ingredient, purport to treat everything from erectile dysfunction to cancer.
Many of the medicines originate in Africa and a significant portion are destined for markets in Asia.
In the evidence storage room near Britain’s Heathrow Airport, home to a menagerie of confiscated wildlife contraband, UK Border Force investigator Jan Sowa picks up a tonic bottle from Asia, containing an entire snake.
“Most frequently we see these as tourist souvenirs, rather than serious medicinal aids,” Sowa said of the snake bottle, noting its English labelling.
The UN estimates the global market for illegal wildlife medicines is valued at $3.4 billion (R44.5m). – Reuters
WE SEE THESE AS TOURIST SOUVENIRS, RATHER THAN SERIOUS MEDICINAL AIDS