SCALE OF THE PLUNDER: A maze of shops at one of Myanmar’s most holy sites, the Golden Rock at Mount Kyaikhteeyoe in Mon state, attracts those who believe in traditional medicine which uses animal body parts. Vendors sell everything, from pieces of ivory and pieces of tiger teeth to vials of bear oil, to cater to the huge demand — a development which is worrying conservationists. A fad now is for “slices of elephant skin to cure skin diseases” such as eczema. Dozens of endangered species are said to be trafficked through Myanmar, now emerging as a key hub in the $20 billion-a-year global wildlife trade. Much of the trade here is controlled by a sophisticated network of criminals. Picture shows a variety of animal body parts and products. — PHOTO: AFP
SCALE OF THE PLUNDER: A maze of shops at one of Myanmar’s most holy sites, the Golden Rock at Mount Kyaikhteeyoe in Mon state, attracts those who believe in traditional medicine which uses animal body parts. Vendors sell everything, from pieces of ivory and pieces of tiger teeth to vials of bear oil, to cater to the huge demand — a development which is worrying conservationists. A fad now is for “slices of elephant skin to cure skin diseases” such as eczema. Dozens of endangered species are said to be trafficked through Myanmar, now emerging as a key hub in the $20 billion-a-year global wildlife trade. Much of the trade here is controlled by a sophisticated network of criminals. Picture shows a variety of animal body parts and products. — PHOTO: AFP
