Last Sunday, I saw a TV report* about the musk deers. They said these animals are still killed for their glands which are used in perfumery and into traditional Chinese medication. The natural musk is extremely wanted: 1Kg is sold from 100.000 to 150.000 euro.



Fortunately, now in Asia there are much musk-deer farmings where deers are not killed for their musk. Four times per year, their glands are removed - they said without pain for the animals (my opinion is that the animals are surely stressed by this operation).

They said also that the use of natural musk in perfumery has been prohibited in 2002. I thought it was before that year! They conclued by saying that it was not for the animal protection that the natural musk has been prohibited, but because the natural musk could induced allergies. But synthetic musk is also said to induce allergies and health problems (cfr the Greenpeace report).

I read a summary of the Greenpeace report about the synthetic musk and what I conclude is that scientist are not so sure that synthetic musk is unhealthy.


(* Le Jardin Extraordinaire, La Une, show of December 9th 2007)
http://old.rtbf.be/rtbf_2000/bin/view_some..._taille.SP.LEJA

So what happens to the deer after the gland is surgically removed?

Handy little article from nowsmellthis...

http://nowsmellthis.blogharbor.com/blog/_a...20/3035560.html

Contradicts the banning year you mentioned....I thought 2002 sounded too late too.

Nothing bad, they are released in their farm where they live and 4 times a year, the surgery is done on them.