Survey on Illegal Trade in Endangered Medicinal Species in China's Traditional Chinese Medicine Wholesale Markets

YIN Feng;MENG Meng;XU Ling;LIU Dingzhen;China Wildlife Conservation Association;College of Life Sciences,Beijing Normal University;TRAFFIC-China Programme;

Endangered medicinal species,Traditional Chinese Medicine wholesale market,illegal trade

In this survey,10 Traditional Chinese Medicine( TCM) wholesale markets in China were visited and 15 endangered medicinal species were recorded. The species include Aquilaria Spp.,Cordyceps sinensis,Cistanche Spp,Gekko gecko,Zaocys dhumnades,Agkistrodon acutus,Bungarus multicinctus,Hawksbill( Eretmochelys imbricata) shell,Bear( Ursus thibetanus and U. arctos) bile,Musk( Moschus spp.),Tiger( Panthera tigris) bone,Leopard( Panthera pardus,Neofelis nebulosa and Uncia uncia,)bone,Rhino( Rhinoceros spp.) horn,Saiga( Saiga tatarica) horn and Pangolin( Manis spp.) scale. The investigation shows that the open illegal wildlife trade is not serious,however it is still common in black market. Very little tiger bone,leopard bone and rhino horn was found,only 0. 8% and 1. 4% dealers claimed to have tiger bone and rhino horn for sale,all of them mentioned the 1993 trade ban. The implementation of Special Mark System of China Wildlife Management and Utilization has succeeded in decreasing the illegal trade marked medicinal species. Some endangered medicinal species come from other countries. We suggest that modification of laws or regulations,improving law enforcement effectiveness,establishment the market and trade monitoring system and improving public awareness of wildlife conservation are required to reduce the illegal trade.