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I’ve always wondered how and when it was that Asians decided that practically every living thing can be consumed, whether served as a delicacy or coveted for its medicinal values.

A chat with my grandma told me that roaches proved to be as good as Tylenol. With much conviction, she said, “Ahhh, many a time have I picked roaches off the floor for your uncles to ‘drink up’ while they were ill.” Seeing my interest and surprise, she ventured on, “yes, take 3 roaches, blend / mash them up, pour in hot water and stir in a little salt.”

Yup, and there you have it – Painkiller à la Roach. Shudder. Whatever – I’d rather put up with fever, thank you.

To make this controversial topic a little more enjoyable for you, I’m literally ‘illustrating’ the point.

Strip 1: Zebra Loses His Manhood

Before the SARS breakout in 2003, a stroll along Guangzhou’s Qingping market provides a memorable experience. Dried lizards, Zebra Testicles, Tiger Paw, Deer Antler, Deer Tail, Rhino Horn, and yes, all the creatures I had never associated with the word ‘food’. Even with the control of the Government, business has seized. Rather, in hidden streets and alleyways, its business as usual for the purveyors of ingredients used in Traditional Chinese medicine.

How true it is that these exotic, er….. ‘parts’ or ‘beings’ prove to offer good health, vitality and recovery, according to the ‘yi see’ (chinese doctor), has thus not been scientifically proven nor endorsed until this day. As for why it even crossed the minds of the Japanese to devour the child-like Dolphin, well, we know how ‘well’ the rest of the world took it.

I do not mean to condemn. But why, with PROVEN research in medical science, along with advanced equipment and hospital facilities, do the Asians bother with the hassles of ‘poaching for medicine’? What surprises me even more is that many of these poor creatures which Noah had tried so hard to save, DO SELL LIKE HOT CAKES!

There you have it. When there’s demand, there will always be supply. Crudely, the ignorant covet the exotic; the unscrupulous kill for it. Sadly, that’s why many are now extinct.

Come on, give the poor creatures a break.

Strip 2: A Tiger’s Nightmare

Strip 3: Mine, Not Yours!

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