As many as 200 tigers are held in captivity for breeding purposes to supply Taiwan's market demand for tiger meat, blood, bones, organs and skins. Among the assortment of curiosities are bear's gall to relieve pain. Bears The gall bladders of bears are a staple in Chinese medicine. They are used as a cure for liver, heart, lung, stomach, skin and kidney ailments. Increasing numbers of poached American black bears are being found with only their galls and paws removed.
Alaskan grizzlies are especially desirable because of their large size.
To increase potency and raise the price, rhino horn, oxidized mercury and gazelle horn often are added to the gall. Mainland Chinese exporters claim that the Taiwanese are among the best customers for bear gall. The Taiwanese also covet other bear products, and are particularly fond of eating bear paw, a delicacy which is alleged to convey great strength. Claws, teeth and hides also are prized by dealers and consumers alike. Although orangutans are not native to Taiwan, the illegal trade in orangutans has reached such epidemic proportions that Taiwan now has more orangutans per square mile than can be found in their native forests of Borneo and Sumatra.