China as an active participant in the protection of wild animals

Chinese Protection of Wild Animals

Protection of wild animals from cruelty and exploitation has grown to be an urgent issue that is encouraged globally. Many animals face the threat of extinction due to illegal wildlife trade and exploitation for purposes of entertainment. Animal protection is, therefore, significant in protecting the animals and keeping them in the wild where they actually belong. In China, the law protecting wild animals is being revised amid growing demands for a shift in the manner in which wild animals’ protection is emphasized. The protection of wild animals in China is based on the fact that there are increasing cases of habitat destruction, hunting, and trapping of the animals; hence, becoming a threat to the populations of such wild animals.

The law that is meant to protect the wild animals from malicious activity by man has been criticized in China because of several contradictory reasons. The law has, in the past been thought to be encouraging captive breeding and training of wild animals. Chinese experts in animal protection have been vigorous in the war to ensure the emphasis on animal welfare and conservation policies. The experts are also calling for new laws that would discourage trading in wildlife products. Research carried out globally indicates that China has been a great participant in wildlife trade because of the laws that encourage trade in wildlife. The trade in wildlife has played a significant role in the destruction of animals’ habitats and poaching of the same animals that have been displaced. Chinese nationals have been, therefore, termed as business oriented without thinking of the harsh consequences of hunting the animals. The traders have not been so keen in thinking of implications such as extinction of the animals in future.

It is noted in most studies that the menace of habitat destruction, hunting, and trapping are among the leading threats to wild animals in China. Critics also note that the existing law that is meant to protect the wild animals is not powerful enough to stop the illegal activities from going on. With the increase in attitudes regarding animal protection, various seminars have been organized in China to ensure that the protection of wild animals is enhanced. The department of resources and environment in the Chinese government has been at the front line in the fight against exploitation of wild animals for entertainment and commercial purposes. There are concerns in China over people who utilize animals. The department of animal conservation has observed that the ongoing destruction of China’s wildlife may be difficult to stop without changing the focus of the law on how to exploit wild nature.

The increase in the cases of wild animals’ exploitation has resulted in a system where wild animals can be bred in special habitats that are created by the Chinese government. The move was meant to protect wild animals from extreme threats that arise when the animals are based at the wild environment. The belief to protect the vulnerable wild animals by developing a wild breeding and training sector has been vital in the conservation of nature, more so the wild panda populations. The animals are said to be facing extinction because of the demand of their products in China.

China has made efforts to protect wildlife as evident from the actions of their President. For instance, President Xi Jinping has been concerned about the threats that wild animals face. He has been committed to combating wildlife trade while the bureaucrats happen to be doing the opposite of the President’s actions. The officials have been held responsible for the outdated wildlife protection law. The recent version of the Chinese law asserts that it is essential to protect and save animals that are threatened by the illicit activities of poachers. While there are a few people who are determined to harm wild animals, there are many citizens in China who have the desire to end the exploitation of wildlife in China.

The law that was passed by the Chinese government provides that there is the need for the existence of captive breeding programs of wild animals for commercial purposes. The law also allowed for the capture of wild animals for the programs that encourage breeding programs. According to researchers of zoology, the law was used to legitimize the use of wildlife for business and consumption for food.

Chinese nationals have been engaged in making traditional medicine using products of wildlife. The making of traditional medicine has been part of the commercial purpose of wildlife that have been captured and killed by poachers and other legal wildlife traders. The use of wildlife for health care supplements and food for profit tends to legitimize the consumption of wildlife; thus, opening the market for wildlife further. The law that has been in existence in China was in one way or another supportive for the illegal exploitation of wildlife for food and health care supplements.

The lack of protection for wildlife has endorsed the use of wildlife for public displays and performances, a move that goes against the policy that was brought into practice in 2010 to ban performances that involved the use of wildlife in zoos. Many profit-making organizations have ignored the fact that the wild animals in China deserve to be cared for in spite of the business oriented nature of the organizations. There has been ignorance on the protection of the animals, leading to the exploitation of their products, a condition that forces citizens to murder the animals. Some animals also exposed to conditions that do not favor their natural existence as in the wilderness.

There are hopes from conservationists and animal welfare advocates that the new law in China would be essential in working to shut down the practices that tend to exploit China’s wildlife. It is believed that the new law would bring in line the sad story of wildlife exploitation with the Public opinion in China. It has become a common phenomenon for Chinese citizens to be against the issue of hunting, trapping, and destruction of the habitats of wild animals. The shift in the citizens’ attitudes could be helpful in combating the menace of wildlife destruction. Products such as rhino horns, shark fin, and tiger bones are known to be valuable products that could generation a lot of income if traded. Initially, many people would term the conservation of wild animals as a lost opportunity because there was no passion among the Chinese to protect the wildlife.

Data from research on wild animals’ conservation reveals that there are about two hundred tiger farms in China, with most of the Tiger being held under inhumane conditions. The animals are not protected in any in any way since they are mostly bred for their skin and bones. It may be beneficial to the Chinese government in the protection of wild animals since the trade on tigers’ bones has been officially banned. The ban in the trade of tigers’ bones could be an example to the nation on what ought to be done in an attempt to protect the animals from exploitation. The trade on the products from Tiger are also said to be generating income through tourist curiosities.

Despite the existence of the rule against the trade on wild animals’ products, there still hopes that the law could be lifted to allow the trade once more. Such measures could continue encouraging the threats that are against the lives of wild animals in China. The lifting of the ban on Tiger bones could also encourage the belief in the healing power of tiger parts. Despite the modernization and improvement in the world of technology, China remains to be a nation that has its citizens believing in the power of traditional medicine. For instance, products that are made from the tiger bone is believed in China to be curative for importance and rheumatism. The belief in the healing power of products of wildlife could be a hindrance in the struggle to ensure the protection of animals. The thriving business in the traditional medicine industry has, therefore, helped to drive the success of farms. Additionally, there has been an increase in the demand for luxury wildlife products as a show of wealth. The perception has also played a crucial role in advancing the business on wildlife products. Many wealthy people have been determined to acquire products that are from wild animals to show off their power and wealth.

Past records indicate that tiger farming has removed the stigma that used to exist in China regarding the use of tiger products. The reduction in the stigma has promoted poaching of wild tigers because of the notion that it is much easier and less costly to hunt a tiger than to raise one in tiger farms. The perception by business people in China to hunt wild animals is a threat to the wild animals that have been poached in painful and invasive processes.

Studies of bear bile farms also show that the Chinese bear bile farms have a capacity to hold more than ten thousand bears. The studies further reveal that the bears have been used in the making of traditional medicine through the painful process that other animals go through. The invasion is done and the bears are brutally murdered so as to obtain certain from their bodies. The brutality involves bears being pierced with medicinal pumps as well as metal jackets that are infected. The brutality that is carried out in the farms is a reflection of the stand of some citizens in China. The lack of the willingness to protect wild animals is clearly indicated when animals are subjected to extreme conditions of pain and later death.

It is said that the owners of the farms that are meant to trap wild animals in China have been provided with the opportunity to expand their businesses. The widespread use of the products of wild animals to make traditional medicine has supplemented the use of manufactured health products in treatment. It is unfortunate that the draft law in China officially endorses the farms that trap wild animals even as the business owners continue to improve their operations for business purposes. Moreover, the Chinese business people who use the products from wild animals have expanded their markets to international markets where people increasingly believe that the Chinese traditional medicine is very effective in treating ailments and solving personal problems.

There is evidence that wild animals are exploited for business purposes despite the new draft of the law that condones such practices. For example, a tiger performing at a private zoo in China does not show the protective nature of human beings. The incidence rather promotes the exploitation of animals for purposes that do not occur naturally. It is widely known that wild animals are very different from what human beings are capable of doing. Unless trained under hostile conditions, the wild animals cannot do the actions that end up being entertaining.

The animals are subjected to stressful situations of encountering human beings several times during the training and shows. It is indeed true that some wild animals prefer to be conservative and they would not want to be in contact with man. Animals who are members of the cat family are known for attacks when they encounter stressful situations in their lives. The protection of wild animals in China should, therefore, be spearheaded by the fact that wild animals also like certain existence of nature and the conditions in which they are exposed ought to be condoned.

The Chinese government drafted a law that allows the performance of wild animals in special parks, circuses, and aquariums. The same government is against the performances of wild animals in zoos. The Chinese government has opted to encourage certain shows as a way of attracting tourists in the country. Bears being part of bicycle riding and monkeys playing acrobatics are examples of shows that are put on for tourists. A tiger having to jump through rings of fire is not an easy process that requires training for a single day. Records have it that the tigers are often subjected to beatings in order to learn the difficult human behavior. There may be light at the end of the tunnel since the provisions of the law require that the animals should only be involved in the performances if their safety is guaranteed by those who use them for the shows to generate money.

Experts who are involved in the protection of wild animals claim that the existence of the new draft of law that allows the use of wildlife products in business allows the view of wildlife as a resource that can be exploited and developed. Many conservationists have attempted to appeal for the new draft of the law to be revised in order to protect the wild animals from the hostility of human beings. The law grants legal basis for commercial use of wild animals with no apparent restrictions from the Chinese government.

Many industries are known to have been part of the trade in wildlife products because of the provision of the new draft that has legalized the exploitation. Other industries have exploited the wild animals in China for research purposes and breeding after obtaining the required license from the relevant authorities. The use of wildlife products in the traditional medicine is legalized since it follows the drug and safety rules in China.

Reports state that rampant smuggling activities of wildlife products are rampant in both the home markets in China and abroad. The current cases of global slaughter of wild animals, uncontrolled hunting, and illegal wildlife trade are serious since they threaten the existence of certain species of wild animals. For instance, the African elephants are a threatened species of wild animals because of the demand for their ivory in China. The smuggling of ivory to China indicates the lack of conscious for the wild animals’ products by the Chinese citizens. In China, it is reported that the smuggling of elephant trophies is the third largest smuggling trade after the smuggling of weapons and drugs. The lack of concern for the protection of wild animals in China is, therefore, gradually affecting the peaceful existence of wild animals globally. The Chinese traders have expanded their trading territories to international markets where they have encouraged the exploitation of foreign animals for commercial use.

With nations such as China that are controlling and damaging the illegal ivory trading markets, it has been difficult to control the poaching in African countries. The lack of protection of wild animals in China has created many links across multiple countries that have also started illegal hunting of wild animals. The increase in international poaching of wild animals raises concern for the need for countries to collaborate to reinforce law enforcement.

The existence of an explicit legal ground in China could bring in specific convention on international trade in endangered species of wild animals. On the contrary, China has customs law that regulates the administration of import and export of endangered species, with provisions that consign wildlife and its products departure and entry. The provisions imply that wild animals are used in the import and export trade between several countries. Decisions that are made in the international unions could be of help in preventing wildlife exploitation in nations such as China. For example, the United Nations general assembly passed a law that would perfect the legislation and prevent the disposition of the illegal wildlife trade, as required by the laws of most countries worldwide.

Ensuring that wild animals are protected in China would require that the eating habits of the Chinese are transformed. Consumer habits have been a motivating factor for the consumption of products that are made from wild animals’ bodies. In China, wild animals have been exploited for food, clothing, medicinal purposes, and entertainment. The use of the wild animals as pets could be an indication of some sympathy that the animals may need to be well taken care.

The consumption habits for the wild animals’ products are said to have historical origins; thus, promoting a wrong consumption idea among the Chinese citizens. The rising cases of wildlife protection concern have significant impact to put to an end further deterioration of the situation. Without the trade in wildlife products, there would be no killing and discipline among wealthy individuals would be enhanced to protect the wild animals.

Latest research reveals that China is now rapidly integrating with the international community and it has actively joined important conventions that are related to animal protection. In the meantime, China is also carrying out activities that show the country’s desire to correct the consumption habits of its citizens. Public health officials have been engaged in public awareness campaigns that inform the citizens of the need to preserve their health as well as that of the wildlife.

The barriers that initially hindered the protection of wild animals in China are gradually becoming barriers in international trade. An increase in restrictions on export and import trade can lead to improvements in Chinese laws and regulations regarding the consumption of products from wild animals. The huge economic network that is driven by interest, trade, and consumer markets is a predicament of the protection of wild animals in China. The country should rather divert its attention to trade in housing and other equipment instead of majoring in hunting of wild animals for commercial use.

In conclusion, there are calls for China to participate actively in the protection of wild animals to enhance the beauty that is derived from the existence of a variety of wildlife in the nation. China focusing on the construction of an ecological environment would ensure that wild animals in the country get better protection in the future. China’s ability to protect wild animals would be improved if the consciousness for wild protection is enhanced among the Chinese citizens. The protection of wild animals in would be better if China joined international wildlife environment protection schemes and wildlife protection transcending borders.