IFAW press release

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Media Contacts:

Jeff He IFAW China Tel: 86-10-64643599 or Fax: 86-10-64643522 jhe

Chris Cutter, IFAW, U.S. Tel: 1 (508) 744-2066, ccutter

 

For Immediate Release

 

IFAW CALLS FOR UPDATED WILDLIFE PROTECTION LAW AFTER CHINA SHUTS DOWN

WILDLIFE MARKETS

 

(Yarmouth Port, MA - 07 January 2004) - Yesterday China's Guangdong province

approved a complete shut-down of all wildlife markets in the province and

ordered 10,000 civet cats killed to prevent another outbreak of SARS

(Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) after a civet cat was found carrying the

SARS-like coronavirus.

 

In response the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW.org) called for

a permanent elimination of all wildlife meat trading across the country by

updating China's wildlife protection laws.

 

" These markets pose a huge threat to both people and animals, " said Dr.

Aster Zhang, director of IFAW's China office. " Scientific findings prove

that when wild animals are kept in captivity their immune systems break down

easier and the viruses hosted in their bodies mutate. When humans buy these

animals at the market and eat them, the chance for infection is very high. "

 

Throughout China, due to insufficient and outdated laws and lax enforcement,

high numbers of nationally protected animals are commonly eaten as

delicacies - including civet cats, a national grade-two protected animal.

Thousands of wild animals of different species are transported, caged, sold

and slaughtered daily in public markets, which could be perfect breeding

grounds of viruses and bacteria. The legal wildlife markets provide disguise

to the large number of wild caught endangered animals in the illegal trade.

Tougher laws and enforcement of wildlife trade will decrease the chances of

another SARS-like outbreak. Protecting wildlife isn't just an animal welfare

issue in China, the unmanaged wildlife trade is a threat to public health,

bio-safety and the national economy.

 

In the wake of the 2003 SARS epidemic, Guangdong authorities proposed a ban

on all wildlife meat, which resulted only in a moral slogan advocating a

" refusal " to eat wildlife meat. IFAW appeals to the relevant authorities to

legislate a real ban and permanently shut down the wildlife meat trade.

 

In response to Guangdong's execution of 10,000 civet cats, IFAW also calls

for a wise and humane handling of the confiscated animals. For those that

are not adaptable for release, humane methods should be applied to reduce

the suffering of the animals.

 

 

 

 

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The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW -- <a

href= " http://www.ifaw.org " >www.ifaw.org</a>) works to improve the welfare of

wild and domestic animals throughout the world by reducing commercial

exploitation of animals, protecting wildlife habitats, and assisting animals in

distress. IFAW seeks to motivate the public to prevent cruelty to animals and to

promote animal welfare and conservation policies that advance the well-being of

both animals and people.

 

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