I have been taken to task by Asians for my comments before, but one of the main threats to the survival of many Asian turtle species is Chinese folk medicine, and the belief that certain species will guarantee long life. Even affluent well-educated Asians consume turtle products (including ground plastrons) in a rather unecological assertion of their ethnicity. I would urge Asians in this country, at least, to examine their precepts. Is it a true belief in the life-extending powers of a threatened species - tiger bones and bear gall bladders are also important in folk medicine- or are you merely celebarting your ethnicity at the expense of seriously endangered species?

[ Show Entire Thread ]