Folk medicine threat to wild dogs

By Matt Walker
Editor, Earth News Half of all wild canine species such as dogs, foxes and wolves are harvested for traditional folk medicines, conservationists warn. According to a scientific survey, 19 out of 35 known species of wild canid are still used in traditional medicine worldwide. For example, wolf parts are eaten to treat chicken pox, while jackals are used to treat epilepsy and asthma. Such trade may place added pressure on some dwindling canid populations. Details of the survey are published in the journal Biodiversity and Conservation. … Of 35 known canine species, the evidence suggests that 19 are still used in traditional medicines, the researchers report. Prof Alves team found evidence that canids are used in the treatment of at least 28 medical conditions, including asthma, arthritis, back ache, bronchial illnesses, chicken pox, eczema, epilepsy, flu, kidney diseases, measles and mumps, as well as the treatment of stomach complaints, snake bites and warts. The parts of some wild dogs are even used in social, rather than medical contexts: in Bolivia, for example, the researchers say that cowboys believe that sitting on the pelt of a maned wolf will protect against bad luck. …