BBC China criticised for 'tiger wine'

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6566507.stm

China criticised for 'tiger wine'

China has come under fire for allowing tigers to

be bred for the production of so-called " tiger

bone wine " .

The drink is reportedly made by steeping tiger

carcasses in rice wine. Those who drink the wine

believe it makes them strong.

Chinese delegates at the International Tiger

Symposium in Nepal are arguing for the lifting of

a current ban on the trade in tiger bones and

skins.

But other Asian nations with threatened tiger populations want the ban to stay.

Emotive issue

There has been a forceful exchange of views on

the issue at the symposium, according to the BBC

correspondent in Kathmandu, Charles Haviland.

Experts say there are several reasons why tiger

numbers have drastically declined, but just one

has grabbed the limelight, our correspondent says.

The argument centres on the existence of

so-called " tiger farms " in China, which have bred

thousands of captive tigers with the ostensible

purpose of entertaining visitors.

But the conservation group WWF, which is chairing

the symposium, says these farms are fronts for

the production of tiger bone wine.

WWF also says the captive tigers cannot survive

in the wild, and believes the production of wine

and underhand trade in skin and bones also

threaten to make wild tiger poaching more

lucrative.

A senior WWF official said the discussions were

heated, with Chinese academics saying their

country should lift its ban on the trade in tiger

parts.

But experts from states like Nepal and

Bangladesh, which have threatened tiger

populations, are urging that the ban should

remain.

On Wednesday, a more formal forum of government

delegations will begin discussing the fate of the

majestic beast, which a recent television poll

declared to be the world's most popular animal.

 

Story from BBC NEWS:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/asia-pacific/6566507.stm

 

Published: 2007/04/18 05:33:07 GMT

 

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