The future of the tiger, the biggest of the cats, is critically threatened by the use of tiger parts in traditional Far Eastern medicine, especially in China, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan.
Tiger penis is thought to be an aphrodisiac.
Though no such powers have ever been established, the demand for medicines containing tiger products continues to threaten the very existence of this incomparable animal. India, with around 3000 to 3500 tigers has become a hunting ground to satiate the ever-increasing demand for tiger products. Trafficking in wildlife products is banned in India, tiger bones and skins are smuggled out of the country. Much of the trade is carried out by nomadic tribesman who use Yak caravans to smuggle the tiger products across remote Himalayan passes into Tibet.