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THE TRUTH BEHIND TIGER BONE GLUE

Tiger products are prohibited by Vietnamese and international laws. All acts of buying, selling, advertising and keeping tiger products are subject to monitoring, investigation and prosecution by law enforcement agencies.

Modern medicine already offers clinically proven, legal options to support health and wellbeing. Using tiger bone glue is not only illegal, but also a gamble with your health and freedom.

© Shutterstock / Shivang Mehta / WWF

The watchful eye of the law

Between 2020 and June 2025, the number of tiger seizures across 13 tiger range countries has increased significantly. Viet Nam accounted for 11% of these cases, equivalent to 102 confiscated tigers*.

 * TRAFFIC. Beyond Skin and Bones: A 25-Year Analysis of Tiger Seizures from 2000 to June 2025 (2025)

© Bộ Công An

Serious criminal penalty

Illegally hunting, killing, raising, keeping in captivity, transporting and trading tigers can result in up to 15 years of imprisonment and 30 billion VND.

*According to Article 144 of the Penal Code (amended by Law No. 86/2025/QH15)

© Soh Koon Chng / WWF

Online trade

Advertising, promoting and sharing information about tiger products is strictly managed by law, including activities on social media1. 40 Facebook groups with 467,936 members were removed between February and August 20252. Many cases have been under investigation by law enforcement.

1: Refer to Decree 38/2021/ND-CP; 15/2020/ND-CP. 2: Implemented by the Department of Radio, Television and Electronic Information, as reported by ENV (2025)

© Adam Oswell / WWF

© Heather Sohl

Don't believe the smuggler’s lies

Tiger traders are part of organized criminal networks. To maximize profits, they are willing to deceive consumers, regardless of the risks to human health.

Wild tigers are functionally extinct in Viet Nam, Laos and Cambodia*. Most tiger bone glue is made from tigers held in illegal or hidden captive facilities, not from the wild.

*Global Tiger Forum and the Global Tiger Initiative Council. Global Tiger Recovery Program 2.0 (2023-34). (2023)
Serious health risks from tiger glue consumption

Zoonotic spillover

Even in legally registered tiger captive facilities, the risk of disease outbreaks still occur. In 2024, 47 captive tigers were culled due to the risk of avian influenza1. Illegal tiger breeding and production have no disease control and safety standards, posing severe risks to human health2.

1: Tuoi Tre Newspaper (2024). 2: Refer to Vietnam Plus (2023)

Contaminated products

According to various investigation reports, sellers frequently mix unknown chemicals, painkillers or even drugs into tiger bone glue*. Consumers of tiger bone glue are putting their own health at risk.

* Sources: Industry and Trade Newspaper (2025), Dan Tri Newspaper (2022)  VietnamNet (2019)
© naturepl.com / Edwin Giesbers / WWF
Tiger bone glue is not needed to keep oneself healthy nor treat musculoskeletal illnesses. Maintain an active lifestyle and opt for clinically-proven legal treatments recommended by doctors.

Say no to tiger bone glue
Tiger conservation at WWF-Viet Nam

Through supporting the restoration of tiger prey species and their natural habitat, WWF-Viet Nam aims to reintroduce tigers to Yok Don National Park.

WWF-Viet Nam applies behavioral research to design and implement evidence-based communication campaigns to reduce the demand for tiger products.

WWF-Viet Nam supports the use of DNA analysis techniques and the development of policy framework to improve captive tiger management in Viet Nam.