Stop Zoos From Exploiting Tigers for Urine and Profit

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A zoo is selling bottled tiger urine as medicine, misleading the public and exploiting captive tigers—this cruelty must end before more harm is done.

Stop Zoos From Exploiting Tigers for Urine and Profit

A zoo in China is selling tiger urine to desperate buyers under the false promise of medicinal benefits. The Yaan Bifengxia Wildlife Zoo bottles and markets tiger urine as a treatment for arthritis, muscle pain, and sprains, instructing customers to mix it with white wine and apply it with ginger slices. Staff even claim it is safe to drink1. This practice is unethical, unscientific, and dangerous.

The Lie of Medicinal Tiger Urine

There is no medical evidence that tiger urine has any health benefits. Traditional Chinese medicine experts confirm that it has never been a recognized remedy, and pharmacists warn that promoting it as medicine is both misleading and harmful2. Selling tiger waste under the guise of healing exploits both the animals and the public.

Health Risks and Lack of Regulation

The zoo collects urine from basins where tigers relieve themselves, but there is no proof of disinfection before bottling3. Customers have no way of knowing if the product is contaminated. Consuming an unregulated animal byproduct poses real dangers, yet government regulators have not acted to stop this reckless practice.

This Fuels a Bigger Crisis

China has banned the use of tiger bones in medicine, but selling tiger urine normalizes the use of tiger-derived products and fuels demand4. This undermines conservation efforts and encourages illegal poaching. Wildlife experts warn that normalizing the sale of tiger byproducts threatens the already vulnerable Siberian tiger population5.

The World Is Watching

Public backlash has been swift. Social media users in China have called the practice disgusting and fraudulent. Many question the safety of the product, while others fear this exploitation sets a dangerous precedent6. Conservationists and medical professionals alike have condemned the sale, urging action before more harm is done.

This exploitation must end. The Yaan Bifengxia Wildlife Zoo must stop selling tiger urine, and Chinese authorities must ban the sale of tiger byproducts in zoos. Sign the petition now and call for an immediate ban and protect tigers from this exploitation.

More on this issue:

  1. Shahana Yasmin, The Independent (28 January 2025), "Chinese Zoo Selling Tiger Urine Sparks Outrage."
  2. Trisha Sengupta, Hindustan Times (28 January 2025), "Tiger Pee for Rheumatoid Arthritis? China Zoo Sells Animal Urine."
  3. Indian Express (27 January 2025), "A Zoo in China is Selling Tiger Urine for Arthritis Treatment."
  4. Times of India (28 January 2025), "Unbelievable: Zoo Markets Tiger Urine as Arthritis Remedy."
  5. Saumya Agrawal, News9Live (29 January 2025), "Chinese Zoo Sells Tiger Urine as Medicine, Sparks Debate."
  6. Global Times (22 January 2025), "Sichuan Wildlife Park Peddles Tiger Urine, Claims Efficacy for Arthritis."

The Petition

To the Yaan Bifengxia Wildlife Zoo, China's National Forestry and Grassland Administration (NFGA), State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), and Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE),

We, the undersigned, call for an immediate ban on the collection, sale, and promotion of tiger urine as a medicinal product in Chinese zoos. The recent revelation that the Yaan Bifengxia Wildlife Zoo is selling bottled tiger urine for purported therapeutic use is deeply concerning. This practice raises serious ethical, conservation, and public health issues that must be addressed without delay.

Tigers, as majestic and endangered creatures, deserve respect and humane treatment. The commodification of tiger urine devalues these animals, turning them into mere suppliers of a baseless remedy rather than respecting them as living beings. Allowing such a practice sends a dangerous message that tiger-derived products hold medicinal value, which can fuel illegal wildlife trade and endanger wild populations. While China has banned the use of tiger bones in traditional medicine, permitting the sale of other tiger byproducts undermines these conservation efforts.

There is no scientific evidence to support claims that tiger urine has medicinal properties. Selling it under such pretenses misleads consumers and promotes unregulated health remedies that could pose serious health risks. The lack of transparency about how the urine is collected and whether it undergoes sanitation further raises concerns about bacterial contamination and disease transmission. The government must act swiftly to regulate such practices to protect public health.

We urge the Yaan Bifengxia Wildlife Zoo to cease the sale of tiger urine immediately and for the NFGA, SAMR, and MEE to implement a nationwide ban on the sale of any tiger byproducts in zoos or wildlife facilities. A policy prohibiting such exploitation would reinforce China's commitment to wildlife conservation, uphold ethical treatment of animals, and protect consumers from fraudulent and potentially harmful products.

China has made significant strides in wildlife protection, and this is an opportunity to lead by example. Ending the sale of tiger urine in zoos will set a precedent for humane and science-based policies that respect both animals and human health. By taking decisive action now, you can help create a future where wildlife is valued for its ecological and cultural importance rather than as a commodity.

We stand together in calling for a humane, safe, and responsible approach to wildlife management.

Sincerely,

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