Follow the trade in endangered species, and chances are you'll end up in Taiwan. For tigers, rhinos, and a host of other species, Taiwan is the last stop on the road to extinction.
unting and habitat loss have taken many species
to the threshold of extinction. Tragically, international efforts to address
these threats to endangered species have been eclipsed by a new danger:
age-old human greed allied with modern technology. Global telecommunications
and international commerce have given birth to a thriving illegal market
for the transport and sale of endangered species. Today, even the most remote
jungle or wilderness is no more than a day or two away from the black market.One nation in particular has taken criminal advantage
of these developments to plunder the planet's vanishing wildlife. The tiny
island nation of Taiwan has become the final destination for everything
from Alaskan grizzlies and African rhinos to Siberian tigers and snow leopards.Taiwan's ruthless leadership in the extermination of
the Earth's wildlife has been thoroughly documented by some of the world's
leading environmental organizations. Investigation after investigation have
graphically illustrated Taiwan's prodigious consumption of tigers, bears,
rhinos, orangutans, leopards and other species. The insatiable appetite
of the Taiwanese for the bones, skins, organs and other body parts derived
from these species now powers a multimillion dollar international poaching
and smuggling network that could eliminate some species within a matter
of months.After two years of research on the illegal trade in
tigers, primates and other species, Endangered Species Project investigators
have identified Taiwan as the principal culprit behind Asia's commerce in
endangered wildlife. Parallel field studies conducted by the Environmental
Investigation Agency into the illegal trade in rhino horn and elephant ivory
also identified Taiwan as the primary force behind the demise of African
and Asian rhinos.This exhaustive research also showed how successfully
Taiwan has circumvented attempts to save endangered species from extinction.
Over the past 30 years, the environmental community, governments and international
wildlife agencies have focused conservation efforts on range states- those
nations where populations of threatened species reside. Despite investments
of tens of millions of dollars, the lucrative trade in endangered species
has overrun conservation efforts on all fronts. Spurred by Taiwan's intense
demand for wildlife and its contemptuous indifference to the survival of
these species, poachers and smugglers are gunning down the last of the world's
wildlife to sate the appetites of their Taiwanese paymasters.Unless the Taiwanese government closes its borders to
the illegal trade, cracks down on smugglers, and puts the dealers out of
business through seizure and destruction of their inventories, species like
tigers and rhinos soon will be gone forever. Taiwanese authorities still refuse to admit that a problem
even exists. The evidence against Taiwan is so overwhelming that these denials
would be comic were not the results so tragic. Taiwanese merchants continue
to openly peddle rhino horn and tiger bone on the shelves of shops and stores
within walking distance of government offices and police stations. The government's
indifference to the illegal trade has made it almost as easy to buy tiger
bones in Taiwan as it is to buy Taiwanese-made products in the United States.Economics play a critical role in endangered species
trade. Taiwan has the 12th highest per capita income in the world and more
than $85 billion dollars in foreign currency reserves. In 1990 Taiwan exported
$23.3 billion in goods to the United States, its largest trading partner.
Much of this newly acquired wealth - provided by American consumers - ultimately
funds poaching and smuggling operations around the world.In response to this crisis, Earth Island Institute's
Endangered Species Project, in conjunction with the Environmental Investigation
Agency, the Humane Society of the United States, the Animal Welfare Institute
and other organizations, has launched a campaign to end Taiwan's trafficking
in endangered species. This multifaceted campaign is designed to show the
Taiwanese government that trading in endangered species doesn't pay, and
that the loss in trade and international prestige will far outweigh the
profits to be made from driving tigers and rhinos to extinction.Our efforts to save these species rely on your participation.
Please, act today, and let's begin the battle to save tigers and rhinos
for the future.
All wildlife trade is regulated by CITES, the Convention
on International Trade in Endangered Species, which is administered by the
United Nations. International sale and trade of species listed on CITES
Appendix I is prohibited. Species on CITES Appendix II can be traded only
after a CITES scientific committee has given its approval. Tigers, leopards,
rhinos, elephants, orangutans, pandas and all species of Asiatic bears and
cats are on Appendix I. All other species of bears and most Asian primates
are on Appendix I or II. Every one of these species is illegally traded
on the Taiwanese black market.On paper, Taiwan would appear to have one of the world's
most comprehensive programs for protecting endangered species. As evidenced
by its role as the world's largest market for tigers, rhinos and other species
on the verge of extinction, Taiwan's wildlife laws are worse than useless.In 1989 Taiwan passed its much-celebrated Wildlife Conservation
Law. On paper this law is stricter than CITES regulations. Article 5 of
the law states "Any animal on the conservation list may not be disturbed,
abused, hunted, captured, traded, exchanged, illegally owned, killed or
processed, unless under special circumstances recognized in this or related
laws."Smugglers, however, have succeeded in corrupting Taiwan's
enforcement agencies of police, customs and coast guard officials. They
benefit from the Taiwanese government's indifference . . . of collusion.
The 1989 Wildlife Conservation Law has accomplished nothing beyond creating
an illusion that the Taiwanese government is trying to eliminate the illegal
trafficking in endangered species. In reality, nothing could be further
from the truth.Taiwan also has passed many other wildlife laws - most
of which are completely ignored. The trade and sale of rhino horn continues
to be freely available at thousands of shops throughout Taiwan. The ineffectiveness
of these laws reflects the government's complete lack of interest in using
these laws for any purpose except as a smokescreen to mask Taiwan's wholesale
trafficking in endangered species.The Taiwanese Council of Agriculture (COA), the agency
responsible for the enforcement of these laws, maintains that its agents
have "unshakable determination" as "sincere practitioners
of wildlife conservation." The vice chairman of the COA, Lin Shiang-nung,
says "trading of tigers and their products has been prohibited since
1985 according to the law, and environmentalist charges are simply groundless."
The tons of rhino horn, tiger bone and the remains of countless other species
openly sold throughout the island nation offer mute testimony and damning
evidence to the contrary.
Tigers stalked the earth long before the evolution of
Homo sapiens. The early relatives of the world's largest cat began to evolve
over 50 million years ago. Since 1900, when there were more than 100,000
tigers, the world's tiger population has plummeted more than 95 percent.Fewer than 5,000 tigers survive in the wild. The Caspian,
Bali and Javan species of tigers have become extinct since 1950, and China
tigers have become so rare that they now are considered biologically extinct.
Only 200 Siberian tigers - the world's largest cat - survive in isolated
habitats. They, too, could be hunted to extinction within two years. The
remaining populations on Bengal, Sumatran and Indochinese tigers all suffer
from relentless poaching; the high market demand for tiger bone may lead
to their extinction in the wild within the next five years.
There remains one country where tigers
still can be found in abundance: Taiwan. Tigers - or, more precisely, the
remains of tigers - are openly bought and sold in most of Taiwan's 13,500
pharmaceutical and specialty shops.Historically, the decline of tigers was caused by habitat
loss, big game hunting and government extermination programs. Today, however,
the biggest threat to the tiger is the demand for its bones and other body
parts for use in traditional Chinese medicine. The Chinese Materia Medica
alleges that tiger bones can be used to remedy rheumatic pain, muscle cramps,
typhoid fever, malaria, rabies scabies, convulsions, boils and to expel
evil spirits. The ground bones are mixed in wines and tonics or used in
pills and balms.Taiwan Trade Trends magazine cited one Taiwanese brewery
as importing almost half a ton of tiger bone wine in one year. One famous
restaurant outside of Taipei serves tiger penis soup, considered a powerful
aphrodisiac, for $320 per bowl.The illicit tiger trade is big business. Dealers and
businessmen who speculate in endangered species often stockpile as many
animal products as possible to drive up prices. In what can only be described
as the epitome of greed, these organized crime speculators are betting on
extinction to drive up the price of their ill-gotten inventories. The resulting
increase in demand puts even more pressure on the remaining populations
in the wild through increased poaching.Taiwanese wildlife racketeers may pay a poacher as much
as $15,000 for a single tiger; the tiger parts can be sold individually
for as much as $60,000. Merchants and pharmacists may charge more than $500
dollars a pound for tiger bone. These tremendous profits to be made from
the bloody tiger trade are too large to be ignored by the impoverished residents
of the tigers' native habitats. Unless Taiwan's market for tigers is closed,
poachers will hunt down the last wild tigers.Estimated tiger population
Indochinese tiger 1,000 Indian or Bengal tiger 3,000 Siberian tiger 200-250 South China tiger 30-50 Sumatran tiger 400-650 Javan tiger extinct in 1980s Caspian tiger extinct in 1970s Bali tiger extinct in 1940s Total 4,630-4,950
The Taiwanese market also supports a heavy trade in
live animals. As many as 200 tigers are held in captivity for breeding purposes
to supply Taiwan's market demand for tiger meat, blood, bones, organs and
skins. These tiger "farms" inside Taiwan also serve as staging
areas for the illegal importation and transport of live animals like leopards,
bears and orangutans.A 1991 publication Traditional Chinese Culture in Taiwan
published and distributed to tourists by the Taiwanese government enthuses,
"Visiting a Chinese pharmacy in the R.O.C. is much like being inside
a miniature museum of science. Among the assortment of curiosities are bear's
gall to relieve pain."
The gall bladders of bears are a staple in Chinese medicine.
They are used as a cure for liver, heart, lung, stomach, skin and kidney
ailments. Taiwanese brokers buy bear gall from all over the world; some
Taiwanese pharmacies sell more than 100 galls a year. Increasing numbers
of poached American black bears are being found with only their galls and
paws removed. Alaskan grizzlies are especially desirable because of their
large size.To increase potency and raise the price, rhino horn,
oxidized mercury and gazelle horn often are added to the gall. Mainland
Chinese exporters claim that the Taiwanese are among the best customers
for bear gall. The Taiwanese also covet other bear products, and are particularly
fond of eating bear paw, a delicacy which is alleged to convey great strength.
Claws, teeth and hides also are prized by dealers and consumers alike. All
Asian bears are listed on CITES Appendix I. All other bears are listed on
CITES Appendix I or II.
Although orangutans are not native to Taiwan, the illegal
trade in orangutans has reached such epidemic proportions that Taiwan now
has more orangutans per square mile than can be found in their native forests
of Borneo and Sumatra. Because juvenile orangutans command from $6,000 to
$15,000 on the black market, more than 1,000 of these increasingly rare
primates have been smuggled into Taiwan for the pet trade in recent years.
Scientists estimate that four to six young orangutans die for every juvenile
orangutan that reaches its market destination alive. In addition, orangutan
mothers are frequently shot in order to capture their young. Coupled with
the severe destruction of their habitat, the demand for pet orangutans in
Taiwan threatens the survival of the species. Today only some 10,000 orangutans
survive in the wild. Orangutans are listed on CITES Appendix I.
The clouded leopard, Amur leopard, snow leopard and
a number of small Asiatic cats all are smuggled into Taiwan - dead or alive.
Young leopards are sold as pets and the remains of adults are used by pharmacists
in prescriptions like those for tigers. Pelts, claws and teeth are bought
by wealthy Taiwanese for use as coats, handbags and jewelry. Smaller felines,
including the marbled cat, leopard cat and golden Asiatic cat, also are
bought and sold by Taiwan's wildlife traders. All leopards are listed on
Appendix I.
Researchers estimate that less than 1,000 pandas survive
in the wild in fragmented populations. These animals are poached for their
pelts, which may sell for more than $100,000 in Taiwan. Although tens of
millions of dollars have been invested in conservation efforts for the panda,
black market demand remains high, and cash rewards continue to encourage
poaching. Pandas are listed on CITES Appendix I.
Over a million rhinos wandered throughout Africa at
the turn of the century. Today, only about 7,000 survive. In less than a
century, humans have destroyed more than 99 percent of the world's rhinoceros
population. Why the precipitous decline? The answer, in a word, is Taiwan.
While a number of rhino horns were traditionally used to make ceremonial
dagger handles in the Middle East, today almost all rhino horn goes directly
for use in Chinese medicine.
The Taiwan government will continue to disregard the
lucrative trade in endangered species until it costs too much to ignore.
Here are three things you can do to help the Endangered Species Project
force the Taiwanese government to stop the slaughter.
1. Don't buy goods made in Taiwan.
Look for the "Made in Taiwan" label. If you don't know where it was made, ask. Tell shop owners why you refuse to buy any goods from Taiwan and encourage them to do the same. Taiwan's dependence on U.S. markets means that American consumers can force Taiwan to clean up its act. Whatever else you do, boycott Taiwan! Let Taiwanese companies know what you think about Taiwan's wildlife trade. Acer (computers), Giant (bicycles), and Tatung Corporation (microwave ovens and televisions) are the three major companies to target. Write them to demand that Taiwan halt the slaughter of endangered species and to let them know that you'll be shopping with other companies until Taiwan stops the trade.
2. Tell President Clinton to impose sanctions.
Taiwan fears international trade and diplomatic sanctions. Please write to President Clinton and demand that the United States pressure the government of Taiwan to halt the illegal trade of endangered species by strictly enforcing its own laws and CITES regulations. Insist that the Interior Department certify Taiwan under the Pelly Amendment and that President Clinton impose trade sanctions against Taiwanese imports. Tell them that you support a suspension of trade against Taiwan and will not buy Taiwanese goods until these conditions are met. Let them know America will not subsidize this slaughter any longer.
3. Support the Endangered Species Project.
Over the past two years, Endangered Species Project investigators have traveled to Taiwan, China, Russia, Burma, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Hong Kong and Vietnam, documenting the illegal black market trade in endangered species. Our field investigations provide up-to-date information to CITES, Congress and government bodies, and could be the deciding factor in securing sanctions against Taiwan and other countries trading in endangered species. In the months ahead we'll be taking our campaign against Taiwan to Washington and the European Parliament to enlist the support of legislators, other conservation groups and corporations in sanctioning Taiwan and forcing compliance with international wildlife treaties. We'll also be attempting to block the entry of Taiwan into the Global Accord on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) until Taiwan becomes a responsible member of the international conservation community. We rely on the contributions of people like you to support our campaigns. So please support the Endangered Species Project's work with a tax-deductible donation.
