Animal products too are widely used in medicines by traditional societies, and in some urbanized societies that believe in traditional animal-based remedies. Examples of such products are dried lizards of several species, the genitalia of dolphins, fox fur, musk (from musk deer Moschus spp.), bears, gall bladders, tiger bones, rhino horn and many other parts of wild animals that are sold for medicinal purposes. Records
indicate that the international trade in medicinal products derived from deer - especially, another tendons and musk is calculated to be worth around US $ 30 million a year!
The use of leeches for medical purposes can be traced back to the Greeks in the 2nd century B.C. Today, these live animals are used during micro-surgery. The sucking action and substances (e.g. anticoagulants) produced by leeches during feeding assist to ensure the survival of accidentally severed body parts, such as fingers and ears, after re-attachment.