Market for velvet

[urbpan]

I knew that there were deer farms around the world (New Zealand's are semi-famous) and it doesn't surprise me to learn that there are "elk" (American elk, or wapiti Cervus elaphus) farms in the United states. [http://www.elkusa.com/Elk_Farming.htm] What surprised me is that there is a market for antler velvet--the Asian medicine market-- and that the elk farmers surgically remove it, so that their bucks will grow a fresh crop every year. Is this a good time to ranch rhinos and harvest their horns?

(I'm mostly kidding. My attitude about such things is expressed here.)

Comments

[cottonmanifesto.livejournal.com]

you know, i'm not sure about that ... let me do some research.