Endangered plants and animals at risk from traditional medicine in Cambodia and Vietnam

Recent reports from TRAFFIC, the world’s largest wildlife trade monitoring network, on traditional medicine systems in Cambodia and Vietnam suggest that illegal wildlife trade, including entire tiger skeletons, and unsustainable harvesting is endangering the region’s rich and varied plant and animal life. Field studies carried out between 2005 and 2007 found that a significant number of Cambodians and Vietnamese rely on traditional medicine. Relaxation of international trade barriers, the impact of free market economies and complex national government policies have led to an increase in the demand and supply for flora and fauna used in traditional medicine. The growing illegal wildlife trade in the region is fuelled by the difficulty of sourcing prescribed ingredients, including parts from globally threatened species. TRAFFIC estimates that 5–10 tiger skeletons are sold annually to be used in traditional medicine. Over 800 types of plants, approximately 35% of the country’s native species, are used in traditional Khmer medicine. Eight of those plant species are considered high priority for national conservation.

<http://www.worldwildlife.org/who/media/press/2008/WWFPresitem9481.html>, accessed September 1, 2008.