 Reference Base  Rhino poaching in Namibia from 1980 to 1990 and the illeg... |
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Martin, E.B., 1993. Rhino poaching in Namibia from 1980 to 1990 and the illegal trade in the horn. Pachyderm 17: 39-51, figs. 1-5, tables 1-5
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World |
| Subject: |
Trade |
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All Rhino Species |
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Unfortunately, one cannot state the same for China where pharmaceutical factories are manufacturing more medicines containing rhino horn than in any other country. At the end of 1989, the first official stock-take of rhino horn in China was carried out. Not all factories and import/export corporations took part, and individual medicine shops were not even asked, but nevertheless, a staggering 9,875 kilos were counted . The factories admitted using on average about 650 kilos of rhino horn a year, including some from pulverizing valuable and rare rhino horn antiques, to incorporate in medicines. These medicines are for sale legally in China, but not allowed to be officially exported by the factories or corporations. Although some is sold to those local Chinese who can afford it, the great majority is bought by overseas Chinese visiting the country who simply take the medicines out with them. Luggage is rarely inspected for medicines at China's exit points. Many of these medicines, such as 'Niu Huang Ching Hsin Wan' made by the Beijing Tongren Tang Factory and 'Laryingitis Pills' manufactured by the Chengdu Traditional Chinese Pharmaceutical Factory, have their labels written in English so that Chinese people from Singapore, Malaysia and elsewhere can read the instructions.
In January 1991, I visited Shenzhen on the border of Hong Kong. It is the first Special Economic Zone in China to have been set up by the government. Many tens of thousands of people from Hong Kong come each year to Shenzhen for business, shopping and entertainment. Some only spend a day while others stay in the many hotels and resorts. Scores of traditional Chinese medicine shops are located all over Shenzhen, especially in tourist areas such as the station, shopping complexes and hotels. The Hong Kong Chinese, and other overseas Chinese who visit, buy large quantities of medicines to bring home. Some of them contain products from endangered species such as rhino horn which are not available for retail sale in places such as Hong Kong and Macao, as they are banned. I carried out a survey of 25 retail pharmacies in Shenzhen and at least nine sold medicines containing rhino horn. The most common were the previously mentioned 'Niu Huang Ching Hsin Wan' which were $9 a box, 'Laryngitis Pills' and 'An Gong Niu Huang Wan' made in Beijing which cost $25 for a large box. Many medicines are newly manufactured.
For example, most of the boxes of 'Niu Huang Ching Hsin wan' were dated 1990. By allowing this trade to continue, the Chinese authorities are going against CITES Resolution 6.10 which urges all party states to ban internal trade in rhino products and derivatives. As these rhino horn-based medicines are easily available to buy in places such as Shenzhen, their continued sales are encouraging rhino poaching to provide more horn for this market.
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