Should seized wild animals be passed over for use in traditional medicines?

The Ha Noi People's Committee has received a request from the Ha Noi-based National Hospital of Traditional Medicine, asking that it be given the carcasses of dead wild animals seized from traffickers early this month so the hospital can use them for ingredients in traditional medicines.

The hospital said parts of the dead animals, such as deer horns, tiger and monkey bones and pangolin, are key ingredients of traditional medicines.

However, wildlife protection agencies in Viet Nam and around the world have urged that humans not be permitted to eat or use wild animals or their products to stop them being killed for the purpose, to save them from extinction.

What do you think of the hospital's request? Would granting their request add credence to erroneous claims that wild animal and their products are useful for treating diseases?

If so, what's a suitable way to deal with the carcasses?

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