Wildlife conservationists have called on China to reinstate the ban, saying it undermines international norms. But Beijing has defended its decision, claiming the animal parts are useful for scientific research.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang on Tuesday defended Beijing's decision to ease a ban on the trade of rhinoceros horns and tiger parts, effectively lifting regulations put in place in 1993.
Lu said prior regulation did not take into consideration the "reasonable needs of reality." He claimed that rhinoceros horns and tiger bones are useful for medical treatment and scientific research.
China's State Council announced on Monday that it would allow the previously banned animal products to be sold under strict controls.
"Under the special circumstances, the regulation on the sales and use of these products will be strengthened, and any related actions will be authorized, and the trade volume will be strictly controlled," the State Council said.
The strange use of animal parts
From perfume to hair accessories, humans have a long history of using animal parts in strange and unnecessary ways. But our penchant for pelts has brought many species to the brink of extinction.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/R. Gacad
An antiquated status symbol
That ivory and rhino horn have a destructive market value is a well-established fact, but they are by no means the only animals caught, tortured and killed for their body parts. Bears are not only hunted for their bile, which is painfully extracted for human medicinal use, but their paws are still sold as a dining delicacy in some Asian countries.
Image: picture-alliance/ChinaFotoPress
Tortoiseshell in your hair?
The use of tortoiseshell dates back centuries, when it was used in such things as jewelry, hair accessories or maquetry. Although the Hawksbill turtle, from which it is derived, is officially listed as "critically endangered", and trade in tortoiseshell was banned in 1973, products made from the majestic creatures' carapace continues in many parts of the world.
Image: Robert Harding
Tiger bone wine
Tigers are highly sought after not only for their skins, which are laid out as a status symbol in some wealthy Chinese circles, but for their bones which is made into wine and promoted as a treatment for rheumatism and impotence. A 2015 report by the London-based Environmental Investigation Agency, recorded "sauté tiger meat" on a menu in a Laos restaurant too.
Image: EIA
A death sentence
Shark fin soup is a delicacy in parts of Asia. It serves as a thickening agent but brings little in the way of taste to the dish, which is often flavored with chicken stock. When sharks are finned, they lose the ability to swim. But as their flesh is of little value, they are thrown back into the water alive. They sink, and over a period of several days, slowly succumb to their gruesome fate.
Image: Gerhard Wegner/Sharkproject
Original leopard print
Like tigers, snow leopards are poached for their skins which are used for making clothes in Central Asia, Eastern Europe and Russia. Also like tigers, their bones are in demand for use in traditional Asian medicine. They are sometimes captured for private animal collections. There are thought to be just 4,000 of the animals left in the wild.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa
A gorilla trophy
Gorillas are poached for their meat, which can fetch a higher price than other bushmeat, such as bats. But there are also reports of this endangered species falling victim to trophy hunting, which as the name suggests sees the animal slaughtered in order to sell body parts to the wealthy.
Image: picture alliance/WILDLIFE/G.Lacz
For its smell
The musk deer is in demand among poachers for its scent glands, also known as musk pods, which are used in the production of perfume. Although the pods can be removed without the animal being killed, poachers often slaughter them. The animal is protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, but the practice continues.
The rhinoceros hornbill seen here is under threat from poachers who target it for its feathers and for the pet market. But other birds in the family, such as the helmeted hornbill are snatched for the horn that gives them their name. Like ivory, it is valuable and is used to carve ornate figurines or as belt buckles and other such accessories.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/R. Gacad
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'Increase the slaughter'
However, wildlife conservationists have firmly criticized the decision, saying it undermines decades of work to rehabilitate endangered species. Charlie Mayhew, chief executive of the UK-based Tusk conservation charity, told DW his organization views the decision "with the greatest concern."
"China will no doubt look to hide behind the fact that they say this only applies to farmed rhino, but they do not have enough rhino in China to begin to satisfy consumer demand for rhino horn," Mayhew said.
"As such, the market will look to Africa to supply the trade and the criminal networks that already exploit this market will increase the slaughter of a species that is at high risk of extinction unless we eradicate the trade outright."
Demand for rhinoceros horns and tiger parts has been buoyed by their incorporation into traditional Chinese medicine despite scientific studies that have shown they offer no additional health benefits.
"The Chinese should be encouraged to educate consumers that there is absolutely no proven medical benefit or magical healing powers contained within either rhino horn or tiger bone," Mayhew said.
He told DW that Beijing should review their decision and swiftly reimpose a ban on the sale of such animal products, adding that "the world has consistently outlawed the reintroduction of any international trade" under global conservation rules.
