Myanmar officials rescue wild animals from restaurants

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http://www.enn.com/news/2003-05-15/s_4456.asp

 

Myanmar officials rescue wild animals from restaurants

 

15 May 2003

By Associated Press

 

YANGON, Myanmar — Myanmar authorities seized hundreds

of wild and endangered animals during raids on four

Yangon restaurants that serve exotic meats, a weekly

magazine reported.

 

In the raids conducted on April 30, police and Forest

Department officials seized four armadillos, 68 fresh

water turtles, 18 tortoises, two monitor lizards, and

283 snakes, including 252 vipers, 30 cobras, and one

python, the Burmese-language 7 Day News reported in

its latest issue. It said three pigeons and 10 water

ducks also were seized, adding that all the animals

were to be released in their natural habitats.

 

It gave no other details, and forestry officials were

not immediately available for comment.

 

The restaurant owners, three of whom are foreigners,

face up to seven years in prison if found guilty of

killing, hunting, and selling wild and endangered

animals. Armadillos and monitor lizards are among

endangered species.

 

Customers pay exorbitant prices for dishes made of

wild or endangered animal meat, believing them to have

medicinal properties. Many eat the exotic meat simply

for the novelty.

 

Restaurant owners say a majority of their customers

are from Hong Kong, Taiwan, and China.

 

Source: Associated Press

 

 

 

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