Unwarranted demand for body parts of endangered animal species for treatment of male infertility

Dear Sir,

There are widespread beliefs amongst infertile and sexually dysfunctional men of Asian origin that their impotence can be treated with tissues or tissue extracts of animal origin. For example: the horn of the rhinoceros; genital tissues of tigers, bile from bears, gall-bladders from snakes, etc. These treatments have no basis in clinical or scientific fact, and any response would be by the placebo effect.

It seems to us bizarre that such beliefs continue when medical advances now provide a wide range of drugs for the treatment of impotence (see Adaikan & Ng, 2000). The great tragedy is that the trade in such animal products is leading to the extinction of unique species e.g. the tiger. It is believed, erroneously, that consumption of the tiger's penis will result in greatly improved sexual prowess.

The current rate of extinction is unprecedented. It is predicted that about two-thirds of all bird, mammal, insect and plant species will be extinct by the end of the next century, based on current trends. Whilst the greatest threat is from habitat loss, demand for wildlife specimens adds to this pressure; in some species, the threat from demand in their trade is just as high as habitat loss.

We in Asia have a unique heritage, that of our unique wildlife. The most obvious case in point is the tiger. There are 5 sub-species still found today (Siberian, Bengal, South-Chinese, Indo-Chinese and Sumatran), and but 3 other sub-species have become extinct (Caspian, Bali and Javan).

The South China sub-species is the most critically endangered of all tiger subspecies, and it is estimated that only 30 to 80 South China tigers still exist in the wild (mid-1990s). However, the recent Indonesian crisis may have resulted in tremendous additional hunting pressures on the Sumatran tiger. A recent World Wildlife Fund field report revealed that in the last 2 years at least 66 Sumatran tigers have been killed, which is about 20% of the entire Sumatran tiger population.

We therefore urge Asian andrologists to educate their patients and their community so that these primitive practices cease. Instead, the patients should be encouraged to understand the real benefits provided by the use of modern medical advances.

Soon Chye Ng, MD & Ganesan Adaikan, PhD.
Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology,
National University of Singapore
Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119074,
SINGAPORE
E-mail: obgngsc@nus.edu.sg

References
Adaikan PG & Ng SC. Physiological significance of nitrergic transmission in human penile erection. Asian J Androl 2000; 2: ?51-56.?

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