HORRIFIC BRUTAL FARMING OF ENDANGERED TIGERS FOR THEIR PARTS & SKINS

                      Refrigerated tiger carcasses in cold storage. Picture courtesy from Daily Express

China have the largest numbers of Tiger farms in the world that have more tigers than all the wild tigers combined in the rest of the world. The trade of tigers parts was banned in 1993 but unfortunately there are still farms that illegally carry on with the trade.

The tigers are farmed for their bones and skins which will be used to manufacture wines and branded bags and clothes.

The Chinese physicians have been using  different parts of the tiger to treat ailments and also to promote health. 

Tiger claws: used as a sedative for insomnia

Teeth: used to treat fever

Fat: used to treat leprosy and rheumatism

Nose leather: used to treat superficial wounds such as bites

Tiger bone: used as an anti-inflammatory drug to treat rheumatism and arthritis, general weakness, headaches, stiffness or paralysis in lower back and legs and dysentery

Eyeballs: used to treat epilepsy and malaria

Tail: used to treat skin diseases

Bile: used to treat convulsions in children associated with meningitis

Whiskers: used to treat toothaches

Brain: used to treat laziness and pimples

Dung or feces: used to treat boils, hemorrhoids and cure alcoholism

Head: used as a display to symbolise power and to bring prosperity and good luck to the owner. 

Eyebrows: have the ability to protect the owner and give them additional strength. 

Penis: have aphrodisiac powers and used in love potions.

Gall: used to treat bone diseases. 

Flesh: eaten to cure skin diseases. The flesh have also been known to be burnt by farmers and laid  around the farms to keep wild pigs away. 

Skin: The tiger skin have been used to make handbags, purses, fur coats and also carpets. 

                      Tiger farms in China. Picture courtesy from http://save-the-tiger.deviantart.com/

The population of tigers have declined 97% in the past decade. They say there are less than 3,000 tigers left in the wild and three of the species have already been extinct and more on the way.

While the Chinese government is taking action in cracking down on tiger parts trade. In 1993, a State Council order in China banned the use of tiger bone for medicinal purposes, the lack of legal clarity, regulations and enforcement provides loopholes for the tiger farmers to continue with their lucrative trade.

DO YOUR PARTS TO SAVE THE TIGERS.   DO NOT BUY ANY TIGERS PARTS, MEDICINES OR ANY CLOTHINGS OR BAGS MADE FROM TIGER SKINS.

References:-

http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/380614/The-horrific-cruelty-of-China-s-tiger-farms-revealed-where-animals-are-turned-into-wine

http://www.tigersincrisis.com/traditional_medicine.htm

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/save-the-tiger-the-animals-bred-for-bones-on-china-s-tiger-farms-9636537.html

http://save-the-tiger.deviantart.com/journal/What-are-tiger-parts-used-for-graphic-images-268788290

ILLEGAL FISHING OF ENDANGERED VAQUITA & TOTOABA

Video uploaded with courtesy from The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA). 

The Vaquita 

                                                      Vaquita 

Vaquita, the world’s most rarest marine mammal and also the worlds's smallest cetacean, is on the edge of extinction. Found within the Mexico's Gulf of California is now critically endangered to the blink of extinction. There are about 60 of the remaining but their population is decreasing rapidly.

The vaquita  has a large dark ring around its eyes and dark patches on its lips that form a thin line from the mouth to the pectoral fins. Its dorsal surface is dark gray, sides pale gray and ventral surface white with long, light gray markings. Newborn vaquita have darker coloration and a wide gray fringe of color that runs from the head to the dorsal flukes, passing through the dorsal and pectoral fins. They are most often found close to shore in the Gulf's shallow waters, although they quickly swim away if a boat approaches.

The Totoaba

Also found in the Gulf of California in Mexico is the totoaba. The totoaba or totuava is a marine fish, the largest member of the drum family Sciaenidae that is endemic to the Gulf of California in Mexico.

The totoaba can grow up to two metres in length and 100 kg in weight. Their diet consists of finned fish and crustaceans. Individuals may live up to fifteen years, but sexual maturity is usually not reached until the fish are six or seven years old. As totoaba spawn only once a year, population growth is slow, with a minimum population doubling time of four-and-a-half to fifteen years.^[3] The totoaba spawn in the Colorado River delta, which also serves as a nursery for the young fish.

                                                      Totoaba 

The totoaba is in high demand for its swim bladder, a gas-filled internal organ that allows the fish to ascend and descend by cintrolling its' bouyancy.

                                                      totoaba swim bladder

The swim bladder is highly prized as a traditional health food in China and is in to very high demand. A single swim bladder can be sold in the black market for thousands of dollars. 

They are usually dried in Mexico before being smuggled out to China through the United States.

The Marine Mammal Center 

The Marine Mammal Center is committed to saving and preventing the extinction of marine lives and to that end is working on a number of initiatives. These include increasing awareness about the vaquita and totoaba  and the threats to their survival, supporting development of alternative fishing gear, and providing administrative support for initiatives such as population surveys. The Center is also providing technical support and training in the investigation of mortality events in the Gulf of California, and veterinary staff recently performed post mortem examinations on two vaquitas found dead in March 2016, confirming gill net entanglement as cause of their deaths.

You can make a difference in saving endangered species by donating to the Marine Mammal Center.

ALL THE WAY TO THE OCEAN

All the way to the Ocean is a short animated film created by Joel Harper, Pete Michels and Doug Rowell. It is also based on a book written by Joel Harper in 2016. Due to copyright issues, I will only be able to play a short trailer of the film.

Directed by Doug Rowell and produced by Joel Harper, the story is about two friends, Isaac and James. When James throws a plastic bottle into the gutter, Issac warns James about the consequences of his littering. From here they begin their journey to learning the harmful effects of pollution in the storm drain with the help of James' mom, a crane and  a surfer dude.. James and Issac also begin spreading the message of pollution to all their friends and school and organizes a cleanup at their school.

The book, written by Joel Harper, illustrated by Marq Spusta and forward by Laird Hamilton was first published on 1st Feburary 2006 and have distributed over 40,000 copies world wide. This book can be brought at their website for $14.95.

Testimonials

" All the Way to the Ocean is an opportunity to learn about how our actions link directly back to nature. Collectively and individually, we have a great responsibility to protect the ocean and the wonderful creatures that live there. If we all do just a little, together we can give a lot."
-Big Wave Surfer, Laird Hamilton

" All the Way to the Ocean is an educational and inspiring story that illustrates that everyone, no matter how small, can make a difference in helping the ocean and the animals that live there. The Aquarium of the Pacific believes in empowering people of all ages because together we can ensure a better future for our ocean planet."
-Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach, CA

" In All the Way to the Ocean, Joel skillfully tackles non-point source pollution in an entertaining way that many children will find engaging. The book also contains references, links and other information to encourage greater reader awareness and action. This book has a timely message that can positively impact our environmental sensitivity and, more specifically, reduce our non-point source pollution. I urge you to consider this book for your sales venues, park libraries and as a gift for a child you know."
-John D. Mott, Cooperating Associations Program Manager Interpretation and Education Division, Department of Parks and Recreation