Editing Poaching (section)

== Products ==
[[File:Seashell vendor.jpeg|thumb|A [[seashell]] vendor in [[Tanzania]] sells seashells to tourists, seashells which have been taken from the sea alive, killing the animal inside.]]
The body parts of many animals, such as [[tiger]]s and [[rhinoceros]]es, are [[Traditional medicine|traditionally believed]] in some cultures to have certain positive effects on the human body, including increasing virility and curing [[cancer]]. These parts are sold in areas where these beliefs are practiced – mostly Asian countries particularly [[Vietnam]] and [[China]] – on the black market.<ref name="Pederson">{{cite web |last=Pederson |first=Stephanie |title=Continued Poaching Will Result in the Degradation of Fragile Ecosystems |url=http://www.theinternational.org/articles/188-continued-poaching-will-result-in-the-deg |publisher=The International |access-date=2013-01-31 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130128093002/http://www.theinternational.org/articles/188-continued-poaching-will-result-in-the-deg |archive-date=2013-01-28 }}</ref> Such [[Alternative medicine|alternative medical]] beliefs are [[Pseudoscience|pseudoscientific]] and are not supported by [[evidence-based medicine]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Jacobs|first=Ryan|title=AK-47s, Quack Medicine, and Heaps of Cash: The Gruesome Rhino Horn Trade, Explained|url=https://www.motherjones.com/environment/2012/08/rhino-horn-trade-explained/|access-date=2020-07-24|website=Mother Jones|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Le Roux|first=Mariëtte|date=25 March 2018|title=Quackery and superstition: species pay the cost|url=https://phys.org/news/2018-03-quackery-superstition-species.html|access-date=2020-07-24|website=Agence France-Presse|language=en|via=phys.org}}</ref>

[[File:Chinese illegal medicinal products.jpg|thumb|200px|A vendor selling illegal items at a Chinese market for use in [[traditional Chinese medicine]]. Some of the pieces pictured include parts of animals such as a [[tiger]]'s paw.]]
[[Traditional Chinese medicine#Animal products|Traditional Chinese medicine]] often incorporates ingredients from all parts of plants, the leaf, stem, flower, root, and also ingredients from animals and minerals. The use of parts of [[endangered species]] (such as [[seahorse (fish)|seahorses]], [[rhinoceros]] horns, [[binturong]], [[pangolin]] scales and [[tiger]] bones and claws) has created controversy and resulted in a [[black market]] of poachers.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=van Uhm |first1=D.P. |title=The social construction of the value of wildlife: A green cultural criminological perspective |journal=Theoretical Criminology |date=2018 |volume=22 |issue=3 |pages=384–401 |doi=10.1177/1362480618787170|pmid=30245576 |pmc=6120127 |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Weirum, B. K. |url=http://www.sfgate.com/travel/article/Will-traditional-Chinese-medicine-mean-the-end-of-3236621.php |title=Will traditional Chinese medicine mean the end of the wild tiger? |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |date=11 November 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scientist.com/channel/life/endangered-species/dn3376 |title=Rhino rescue plan decimates Asian antelopes |publisher=Newscientist.com |access-date=2010-03-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130517061549/http://www.scientist.com/channel/life/endangered-species/dn3376 |archive-date=2013-05-17 }}</ref> Deep-seated cultural beliefs in the potency of tiger parts are so prevalent across China and other east Asian countries that laws protecting even critically endangered species such as the [[Sumatran tiger]] fail to stop the display and sale of these items in open markets, according to a 2008 report from TRAFFIC.<ref>{{cite web |author=Wednesday |url=http://www.traffic.org/home/2008/2/13/tiger-tiger-future-not-so-bright.html |title=Traffic.org |publisher=Traffic.org |date=2008-02-13 |access-date=2014-08-08}}</ref> Popular "medicinal" tiger parts from poached animals include tiger genitals, believed to improve virility, and tiger eyes.

Rhino populations face extinction because of demand in Asia (for traditional medicine and as a luxury item) and in the [[Middle East]] (where horns are used for decoration).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/15/world/africa/rhino-horn-trade/index.html |title=Rhino horn trade triggers extinction threat | website = CNN | date = 15 November 2011 |access-date=2014-08-08 | last = Norgaard | first = Kim}}</ref> A sharp surge in demand for rhino horn in Vietnam was attributed to rumors that the horn cured cancer, though this has no basis in science.<ref>{{cite news |author=Jonathan Watts in Hong Kong |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2011/nov/25/cure-cancer-rhino-horn-vietnam |title=article, November 2011 |newspaper=Guardian |date=25 November 2011 |access-date=2014-08-08 |location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Wildlife |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/9525512/Rhinos-under-24-hour-armed-guard.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120909082347/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/9525512/Rhinos-under-24-hour-armed-guard.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=9 September 2012 |title=Telegraph article, "Rhinos under 24 hour armed guard, Sept. 2012 |publisher=Telegraph.co.uk |date=8 September 2012 |access-date=2014-08-08 |location=London}}</ref> In 2012, one kilogram of crushed rhino horn has sold for as much as $60,000, more expensive than a kilogram of gold.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/slaughter-of-rhinos-at-record-high-7687511.html |title=Slaughter of rhinos at record high |publisher=Independent.co.uk |date=2012-04-29 |access-date=2014-08-08 |location=London |first1=David |last1=Randall |first2=Jonathan |last2=Owen}}</ref> Vietnam is the only nation which mass-produces bowls made for grinding rhino horn.<ref>{{cite news |author=David Smith in Johannesburg |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/sep/04/rhino-horn-wildlife-trade-vietnam |title=Rhino horn: Vietnam's new status symbol heralds conservation nightmare, Guardian September 2012 |newspaper=Guardian |date=4 September 2012 |access-date=2014-08-08 |location=London}}</ref>

[[Ivory]], which is a natural material of several animals, plays a large part in the trade of illegal animal materials and poaching. Ivory is a material used in creating art objects and [[jewelry]] where the [[ivory carving|ivory is carved]] with designs. [[China]] is a consumer of the ivory trade and accounts for a significant amount of ivory sales. In 2012, ''[[The New York Times]]'' reported on a large upsurge in ivory poaching, with about 70% of all illegal ivory flowing to China.<ref name=nyt120903>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/04/world/africa/africas-elephants-are-being-slaughtered-in-poaching-frenzy.html?pagewanted=all |title=Elephants Dying in Epic Frenzy as Ivory Fuels Wars and Profits |first=Jeffrey |last=Gettleman |work=The New York Times |date=3 September 2012}}</ref><ref name=nyt121226>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/27/world/africa/in-gabon-lure-of-ivory-proves-hard-to-resist.html?pagewanted=all |title=In Gabon, Lure of Ivory Is Hard for Many to Resist |first=Jeffrey |last=Gettleman |work=The New York Times |date=26 December 2012}}</ref>

[[Fur]] is also a natural material which is sought after by poachers. A [[Gamsbart]], literally ''chamois beard'', a tuft of hair traditionally worn as a decoration on [[tracht]]en-hats in the [[Alps|alpine]] regions of Austria and [[Bavaria]] formerly was worn as a [[hunting]] (and poaching) trophy. In the past, it was made exclusively from hair from the [[chamois]]' lower neck.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nFw6Pa02_PkC |title=Randkulturen: Theorie der Unanständigkeit |last=Girtler |first=R. |date=1996 |publisher=Böhlau Verlag |location=Wien |isbn=9783205985594 |language=de}}</ref>