The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) recently ranked Vietnam as one of the worst countries when it comes to caring for the wild animals in their countries. Vietnam, as well as neighboring Southeast Asian countries China, the Philippines and Laos, are all swamped with wild animals and each country has their culture tied to these particular animals. But must we actually condemn these countries for treating or poaching wildlife? Let’s put things in perspective.
Each of these countries manufacture herbal medicine. These medicines are alternatives to modern drugs and supplements that mainstream drugstores and pharmacies in their country provide. These countries have a rich culture of using alternative medicine to stop certain problems well before the arrival of modern medicine from Europe, before other experts discovered them and before patents were the trend in the industry.
These alternative products have helped many people from many decades and centuries past to cure body ailments and other serious diseases that the western world has failed to keep up with. Given the culture of using such, they make use of many body parts of animals, especially those of the rare kind.
Given such circumstances, it is respectful that we see the point of view of the WWF. Striving to preserve the endangered species of the planet, the endangered in the Southeast Asian continents prove to be indeed, in danger. It is rightful for them to rank Vietnam as the lowest in animal welfare and preservation, but, if it was culture, not everyone needs to condemn the country, or other countries doing the same thing.
Before we condemn others about their actions, we must first look into the history of why they commit such actions. This event can also be analogous to the middle eastern conflicts. Sectarianism, being a part of their culture, always initiates big conflicts from the smallest of reasons. In Southeast Asia, we have their medicinal history, which derives from killing or using the body parts of endangered animals. Do you really think that we should condemn them for their actions? I don’t think so.