I think the biggest aspect of speciesism with Tigers is the fact that they are hunted, and their fur is used as rugs, fashion, or a sort of treasure symbol. The bones of a tiger are crushed up and used in wine that is sold at Safaris in China, and the bones are even used in medicine that supposedly is a cure for rheumatism, which causes aches and pains like arthritis, but affects the joints and connective tissue. According to an article I read, “China has about 5,000 tigers in privately-run tiger farms, which have admitted stockpiling tiger carcasses in the hope that the 14-year old trade ban will be lifted.” ( Oryx, Oct. 2007 ) It is hard to believe that we would collect dogs and cats on a farm only to harvest them for their bones. I think that tigers are treated with cruelty in society because they are basically thought of as only a product. It could be argued that tigers could possibly be treated in the same inhumane manner that people consider farm animals to be treated. Chinese medicine, whether it be ancient or not, used every part of the tiger as some remedy. It only shows a piece of how the tiger is viewed, as its viewed as what uses it has for healing.
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