The program to save the endangered marine mammal called vaquita failed after one exemplar died shortly after the rescue and another one had to be released after showing signs of extreme stress. The program received funds for about 3.5m €, involved 60 scientists, and should have saved the few vaquitas left by transferring them in a marine Sanctuary.
In that area of the Gulf of California lives another endangered species of fish, the totaba, whose swim bladder is considered in Chinese culture a precious gift and a powerful remedy for male infertility. This organ may sell for up to 80000€/kg, earning it the name “cocaine of the sea”. The illegal gillnets used to fish the totaba trap the marine mammals as well, leading them to drowning. The last hope for the 30 vaquitas left lies in the Mexican Government, that should be able to impose sanctions high enough to make illegal fishing difficult and not profitable.
Another animal slaughtered because of its value in the Chinese traditional medicine is the donkey. The gelatin obtained boiling its skin, the ejiao, is used to cure many diseases and is believed to elongate life. Its price had a fourfold increase in the last decade. Because the demand is so high, China is relying on import of donkey hides from countries like Africa, where these animals are fundamental but many men need extra income and find it with poaching.
The list does not end here, there are over 1500 different species of animals and plants used for traditional medical practices in China and India, many of them are endangered. Even when the Government bans the import, poachers continue to feed the illegal market. The change that may occur to beliefs surrounding traditional medicine is bound to be the end of this massacre, but might come too far away when most of the species will be extinct.
For those of you interested and in the area, there is an exhibition entitled “Extinctions: vertebrates biodiversity endangered” organized by the Museum of Natural Sciences that illustrates the rarefaction processes. Traditional medicine appears in many of them. (Location: piazza Castello 165, Turin).
