Rare Orchids Cost Canadian Importer $100,000 Fine

A Canadian supplier for the traditional Chinese medicine market has been fined CAN$100,000 for importing endangered orchid species. Also found during the Environment Canada raid were a range of other species used in Chinese medicine, including;

• tree ferns;
• ivory from African Elephant;
• monkey;
• bear; and
• crocodile.

It's great to see effort going into stopping a market that exploits these animals for 'medicinal' purposes. How can the tusks of an African Elephant be considered a Chinese medicine?

Link: http://wildlifenews.co.uk/2010/can100000-fine-orchid-importer/