China’s Ya’an Bifengxia Wildlife Zoo has gone viral for selling really unconventional merch.
According to one visitor, the Sichuan zoo now sells the urine of their Siberian tigers. In the photo they shared online, each bottle of yellow liquid retails for 50 yuan (S$9.40).
A label on the bottle claims that tiger’s urine can help treat conditions such as rheumatism, sprains, and muscle pain.
It recommends customers mix the urine with white wine before applying it to affected areas on their body together with sliced ginger. Apparently the urine can be consumed but ask that users should stop should they suffer “allergic reactions”.
A staff of the zoo said that the urine is collected directly from, um, source. They, however, did not clarify if the urine is treated before being bottled.
The same staff also revealed that the zoo sells “up to two bottles” of the tiger urine daily.
A pharmacist from Hubei’s Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital has responded to the buzz surrounding the controversial product.
The pharmacist said tiger urine is not recognised as traditional medicine, and there is no proof of its efficacy.
He also believes that the sale of the tiger’s urine may have a negative impact on the conservation of the species.
Speaking to SCMP, he advised visitors to seek proper medical treatments should they require it, adding that one’s condition may worsen should they use “unproven substances”.
The zoo’s qualifications to sell medicinal products have also been questioned. However, the zoo’s staff has claimed that they have obtained a business license to sell tiger urine.
While some netizens are curious about the alleged benefits of tiger urine, many others have expressed concern at how the urine can be unsanitary and may lead to the spread of bacteria.