Viagra helps to save endangered animals

[Why Syzygy]

http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/viagra-helps-to-save-endangered-animals-604618.html
Viagra helps to save endangered animals
By Steve Connor, Science Editor

The anti-impotence drug Viagra has become an unexpected hero in the fight against the hunting of endangered animals for traditional Chinese medicine.

The global success of Viagra since it went on sale in 1998 has led to a decline in the trade of animal parts for their supposedly anti-impotence properties, scientists have found.

Viagra is cheaper than many traditional animal-parts remedies – such as dried seahorses or crushed rhino horn – and it visibly works whereas the natural cures do not.

Research shows that the trade in the velvet covering of reindeer antlers fell by 72 per cent from 1997 to 1998. This was the sharpest annual drop in nearly 30 years.

Meanwhile, sales of the penises of Canadian hooded and harp seals – also valued as impotence treatments – fell by half between 1996 and 1998, according to Frank von Hippel, a biologist at the University of Alaska in Anchorage.
~snip

http://www.alternet.org/story/67663/dick_cheney%27s_sadistic_passion_for_shooting_tame_animals/
Dick Cheney's Sadistic Passion for Shooting Tame Animals
By Martha Rosenberg, AlterNet. Posted November 14, 2007.

When released for put and take hunters like Cheney, pen raised birds can barely walk or fly -- or see, thanks to the goggles. They don't know how to forage or hide in the wild and sometimes have to be kicked to "fly" enough to be shot.

Some hunters say shooting the pellet-ready tame animals, which offer no resistance, is like having sex with a blow-up doll.

But others say hunting itself is like sex with a blow up doll and that the 10 percent decline in hunters seen in the United States since the late '90s -- from 14 million to about 12.5 million -- coincides exactly with the debut of impotence drugs like Viagra.
~snip

[panader0]

1. And the debut coincides with the rise in sales of blow up dolls.

[Why Syzygy]

2. Maybe

if Cheney got an Rx, he would be less inclined to kill innocents.

[panader0]

3. With his heart troubles, a dose of Viagra would kill him. Yes.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

7. It's likely that he can't take Viagra due to other medications that he takes.

Of course I don't know what medications he is on so I'm just speculating.

David

[Why Syzygy]

8. After they die a natural death,

maybe just give him penises of Canadian hooded and harp seals. No killing allowed, though.

[predfan]

4. I've got your endangered animal right here.................

[uppityperson]

5. I thought at first they were giving it to endangered animals, leading to all sorts of odd thoughts

what does a rhino do if its erection lasts longer than 4 hours?

I'd rather have people take lab produced chemicals than rhino horns.

[beam me up scottie]

6. I thought they were going to give it to pandas.

Panda Porn just isn't enough.

[trotsky]

9. So, evil bad "Western" medicine succeeds where "traditional Chinese" medicine failed?

I'm shocked, really. :sarcasm:

[Why Syzygy]

10. That isn't what the article says.

It worked or there wouldn't have been poaching. Of course, I have no evidence of that. Just using deductive reasoning.

[Celebration]

11. I bet the Viagra is actually cheaper, too

This is really good news.

[trotsky]

12. It sure as heck does say that.

Viagra is cheaper than many traditional animal-parts remedies – such as dried seahorses or crushed rhino horn – and it visibly works whereas the natural cures do not.

[Why Syzygy]

13. I'm going to have to stand by

my statement. But, since I've known 'natural' remedies to work, I realize there is a difference between strengthening a body system in order to perform a natural bodily function at the appropriate time, and an instant erection. Taking the Viagra has an immediate effect, whereas a natural treatment would only work under *normal* conditions. But, I'm open to the possibility, and will do some :google: when there's spare time.

At least I think it must be admitted that there would not have been poaching unless their was at least a PERCEIVED benefit.

[trotsky]

14. You'll stand by your error then? OK then.

At least I think it must be admitted that there would not have been poaching unless their was at least a PERCEIVED benefit.

Not at all. Why would they switch to Viagra if they were at least PERCEIVING a benefit with rhino horn?

[Why Syzygy]

15. Access.

It hasn't been determined to be an error yet. If I find I'm wrong, I'll admit it.

[Why Syzygy]

16. Okay.

Well, both right, you more so than I.

Rhino horn
Rhino horn is primarily fibrous tissue with fairly large amounts of calcium and phosphorus. Since low levels of these minerals can lead to weakness and general fatigue, taking large doses of these elements could increase stamina if levels were low to begin with. It's understandable, then, how it could have historically appeared to be an aphrodisiac (in addition to its resemblance to an erect penis). People who didn't have deficiencies of those minerals wouldn't have seen the same affect.
http://health.howstuffworks.com/aphrodisiac4.htm

http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Publications/ZooGoer/1997/1/hornsandhumans.cfm

[trotsky]

17. "it visibly works whereas the natural cures do not"

I'll go with what the article YOU POSTED says. Go argue with the author of the article if you think they're wrong. You're really reaching to turn a general mineral deficiency into a specific case of male impotence.

[Why Syzygy]

18. So, one article I post is right and another article I post is wrong.

Wow. Cherry picker?

[trotsky]

19. Aren't you just picking a different cherry then?

Hmmm?

[Why Syzygy]

21. Personally,

I don't find it difficult to understand that mineral deficiency could contribute to ED. If limes can prevent scurvy, for example, then it stands to reason.

However, I'm not planning to do any further research on the topic just so I can debate you. You want the point, have it. :patriot:

[trotsky]

23. Technically both points were yours, since you posted both articles.

However since you want to equate the rare example of mineral deficiency leading to impotence with the widespread use of one particular natural "treatment," I'd say you can just own the whole mess.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

20. or it could mean that hunting has declined due to decline in blow up dolls

or that people previously using blow up dolls are now short of breath.

[Why Syzygy]

22. lol.

:rofl: