Traditional Medicine and Animal Welfare

Traditional medicine practices involving animals — from bear bile to pangolin scales — drive significant wildlife exploitation and suffering globally.

Key Facts

Bear bile farming affects thousands of bears in China, Vietnam, and South Korea under painful conditions
Pangolin scales have no proven medical efficacy but remain the most trafficked mammal product
Tiger bones, rhino horns, and sea horses are all used in traditional medicine despite lack of clinical evidence
Synthetic alternatives and herbal substitutes exist for many traditional animal-derived medicines
Vietnam and China have made partial moves to restrict wildlife-based medicine but enforcement is weak
Cultural sensitivity is required in advocacy but scientific evidence should guide policy change

Welfare Considerations

Animals exploited for traditional medicine suffer extensively: bears caged and catheterised for bile extraction, pangolins trafficked and killed, tigers bred in deplorable captive conditions. The welfare case against these practices is clear. Advocacy must be both scientifically grounded and culturally respectful, emphasising evidence-based alternatives and legal reform.

What You Can Do

Avoid products containing wildlife-derived traditional medicine ingredients
Support campaigns to promote evidence-based medical alternatives
Advocate for stronger enforcement of CITES protections for threatened species
Engage respectfully with traditional medicine communities about alternatives
Support organisations working on demand reduction in consumer countries