China is allowing the use of the bones of captive-bred tigers to be used as a tonic wine, even though the practice has been illegal since 1993.

The government justifies this practice by claiming they are captive tigers- not wild ones. But they were obviously wild at some point and taken from the wild. It is estimated there are 5,000 captive tigers on farms and zoos, though there are as few as 3,200 wild tigers left woldwide. 100 years ago, there were 100,000 wild tigers but they were relentlessly poached for tiger parts and put in captivity on farms until they have now become critally endangered in the wild.

Tiger bone tonic wine is believed to have medicinal properties. Tiger bones are left to soak in the wine and removed before bottling. It is believed to remedy muscle pain, rheumatism, arthritis, paralysis and stimulate blood flow and has been used for centuries in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

China declared to help double the world's wild tiger population by 2022 by combating illegal trading and poaching of tigers and tiger parts, yet it is driving the market for continued illegal poaching and the demand for tiger bone wine.

The only way to truly combat the poaching of tigers is to ban the use of ALL tiger products, including tiger bone wine. Save the tiger from extinction and stop using tiger products.

SOURCE: http://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2013/02/china-allowing-sale-of-tiger-bone-wine/