Animal Welfare and Medicine

Animal welfare and medicine are crucial issues of concern. Millions of people worldwide use traditional medicines derived from the exploitation and killing of animals. Even though these animals suffer immensely and there is no scientific evidence to support the efficacy of these medicines, people continue to use them. This is partly because many people do not realize that traditional medicines often rely on animal exploitation and cruelty; they assume that these treatments must be effective if used for centuries.

Poaching is a primary reason behind the destruction of many threatened species for traditional medicinal purposes. A majority of the world’s population relies on animal and plant-based medicine. Human beings have depended on plants and animals for food, clothing, and medicine since ancient times.

Kenya is blessed with a wealth of biodiversity due to the dynamic variations in geography and climate that characterize the country. Some of the local population uses traditional methods of medical help due to living in isolated regions where advanced healthcare facilities or hospitals are not available or are even negligible compared to the rest of the world. These people are still entirely dependent on traditional medicine in their health care system for their health care. As a result, the local population relies on the traditional biomedical knowledge of its ancestors for medical treatment. That knowledge is transferred via oral communication from generation to generation.

Demand for traditional medicine

Traditional Chinese Medicine has been growing at a rapid pace. Last year, Chinese media outlets reported that more than 60 magical medicine facilities were developed in various countries, including Poland, the United Arab Emirates, Germany, and France. Traditional Chinese Medicine is found in more than 180 nations with almost all the world’s recognized countries, and the industry is worth approximately $6 billion.

If respecting the cultural beliefs of a particular nation caused the death of the biological heritage of another, China, then it would definitely be wrong. Cathy Dean, the CEO of Save the Rhinos, based in London, believes that.

The use of traditional medicine endangers species

Thanks to the traditional medicine trade, several species have already been threatened or critically endangered. Any increase in demand for or development of these species could be devastating. Rhinos and pangolins are one of the imperilled species trafficked to Chinese markets for Traditional Chinese Medicine, a firm stance should be taken against the use of animal products, let alone those from endangered animals. Sadly pangolins are believed to be the world’s most trafficked wild mammal, killed for their meat or used as traditional medicine. Pangolin products, particularly those made from their scales, are highly desired in America for their leather’s use in boots, bags, and belts.

As you may not know, February 20 is World Pangolin Day, and the value of these mammals in commerce in recent years is staggering. One million pangolins were trafficked from 2010 to 2019, although this figure may be low based on the level of reported seizures of pangolin scales. It is estimated that more than 195,000 pangolins were sold for their scales on World Pangolin Day in 2019.

How the internet contributes to poaching

With an increase in accessibility to web content and an increase in connectivity across all areas of the earth, man’s activity has been hindered by a seemingly harmless source: the internet. And they aren’t the only ones to face this problem. The highest levels of endangered animals, from tigers to elephants, and even rhinos, can all be found with a simple swipe or click of a finger through regular apps. Criminals can now access the world’s biggest marketplace through the modern-day Web, smartphones, and social and media platforms, which allows them to advertise illegal species and process transactions without undue risk.

Despite existing CITES -Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species agreements with other uses, the black market for illegally passed animal parts is thriving. Many animals are likely to be trafficked to China, either for medicinal or other purposes. Pangolins, for example, are typically believed to be the most trafficked mammal in the world and are often banned from trade, as discovered under CITES.

Traditional Medicine and treatment methods are currently used in China, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, Europe and Asia.

Despite that, the International Union for the Conservation of the Environment, or IUNCE establishes the conservation status of a given species and estimates that more than a million animals have been poached from wild habitats throughout the world in years past. The scaly animals used for traditional medicine in Vietnam and China are poached for their meat.

While CITES protection prevents certain animal species from being traded, regulated trade is not being made.

For instance, pangolin may be prescribed to relieve inflammation or eliminate stasis. Depending on the condition, there are 125 alternative medicines for treating inflammation.

Plants are used for medicine instead of using animals products.

The Antelope horn is traditionally used to curb tremors. The alternative plant substances that can be used instead of including Uncaria rhynchophylla (cat’s claw herb) or a herb in the orchid family is called Gastrodia elata.

Much plant extract can be considered instead of tiger bone, traditionally used to treat pain and strengthen ligaments and tendons. For pain relief, one can use a plant in the mint family called Salvia miltiorrhiza (otherwise known as red sage) to strengthen tendons and ligaments. One can use a particular plant in the mistletoe family called Sāng jì sheng (otherwise known as Taxillus Chinensis Danser).

 

The impact of the illegal ivory trade is felt worldwide; rhinos have become a victim, a highly endangered species with only about 25000 rhinos left in the wild.

Since 2008, 5940 rhinos have been poached in Africa because horn from rhinos has been a big deal for ages; powder from the horns is believed to reduce fever.

The increase in rhino-horn users and reputation as a medicinal substance has significantly contributed to the number of rhinos perishing in recent years.

Currently, the only remaining African wild zebra is the Gravy’s discolouration (Equus craporius craporius), located in the forests of Ethiopia and Kenya. There were 15000 such zebras in the 1950s; only 3,500 survive today.

The leading causes of the deaths among zebras are loss of land and persecution of the people for their meat, hide, and fat. Different populations also poach zebras to meet their meat, hides, and fat demand. The parts of zebra meat, hide, and traditional healers use fat as a traditional medicine in Africa.

The responsibilities of safeguarding wildlife are not limited to their handlers, just as the responsibility of customers toward their selves doesn’t stop at buying safe and effective products. People should be well informed on what cures them and use alternative plant medicine to stop the cruelty to animals worldwide.

Advantages of using herbal/plant medicines

Herbal remedies have been employed for centuries like conventional medicine. Herbal medicine was the foundation of modern medicine. This treatment also has exceptionally few herbal side effects. Regrettably, herbal medicine is often bypassed compared to mainstream medical treatment, which is a travesty because these remedies deliver significant health benefits.

Herbal medicine is cheaper than conventional medicine; hence people living in marginalized areas may prefer traditional medicine as they can barely afford them.

Plant-based medicines are more accessible to obtain than prescription medicine as they are found within the vicinity of most communities in underdeveloped countries.

Stabilizes hormones and metabolism.

Plant medicines are believed to bring natural healing o individuals without necessarily going to a hospital for treatment.

Herbal medicine is believed to strengthen the immune system of individuals.

Plant medicines have fewer side effects than conventional medicine and are preferred by some people.

Herbal medicines are cost-effective compared to conventional medicine; hence most people can easily afford them.

What is Eco Clubs of Kenya doing?

Eco and other NGOs in Africa are collaborating to protect wildlife from wildlife crime.

Let’s stop the exploitation and killing of animals for medicine. There is no scientific evidence to support the efficacy of drugs produced by exploiting animals and endangering the species to be extinct. Let’s use plant extracts instead for medicine other than illegally poaching animals for their believed medicinal value.

Let’s stop the illegal killing! Animals’ lives matter.

Please donate to the Eco clubs of Kenya at https://ecoclubsofkenya.co.ke/donate/ to help protect the endangered animals against illegal poaching for their medicinal benefits.