(CN) Southern China Is Not the Only Source for Volatile Live Animal Markets

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HerpDigest

Publisher/Editor Allen Salzberg

Sunday January 25, 2004

Volume # 4 Issue # 21

 

By Michelle Jacmenovic (From HSUS Newsletter and website dated January 21,

2004)

 

The stories coming out of Southern China where researchers have found a

SARS-like virus in civet cats, a relative of the mongoose that is regularly

sold in wild-animal markets in the region, tend to give Americans a false

sense of security. As long as we control our borders and ban potentially

virus-laden wildlife, we're safe. Right?

 

Not necessarily.

 

Live markets, where consumers can purchase animals (wild or domestic) and

have them slaughtered on the premises (or take them home) to ensure the meat

is fresh, can be found all over the world, notably throughout California.

 

The most famous live markets, of course, are in China. The Southern Chinese

have a long tradition of eating wild game, including civet cats and snakes

and turtles. People in the region believe eating wild animals promotes

health and vitality or some admirable trait associated with a particular

animal.

 

But whether in Southern China or Chinatown in San Francisco, live animal

markets tend to share the same problems: Not only can they sell diseased

animals for human consumption, but they can perpetuate a wide variety of

animal cruelties, from inadequate housing to inhumane slaughtering.

 

The ever-growing demand for wildlife is creating serious conservation

concerns for many species. Turtles are perhaps the most dramatic case:

Nearly two tons of turtles are sold daily in Asian live animal markets. The

demand for turtles for use as food has decimated wild turtle populations

across China. In recent years, Asian dealers have turned to other countries,

in particular the United States, in order to meet the Asian appetite for

freshwater turtles.

 

In 2002, 23,000 turtles were collected in North Carolina alone, up from just

460 in 2000. The majority of these turtles were shipped to Asian markets. In

response to this growing demand, several states including North Carolina,

South Carolina and Minnesota enacted legislation to protect wild freshwater

turtles from over-collection for trade.

 

But turtles are not the only animal whose wild populations are at risk from

live markets. An estimated 10,000 tons of snakes are eaten in China every

year. In recent years, the over-collection of snakes across Asia has

resulted in rodent population explosions in several areas, which in turn

have caused severe crop damage and economic losses for many farmers.

 

The most profound problem associated with wildlife consumption in China has

been the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), believed to

have originated at live animal food markets in China's Guangdong Province,

where it may have passed from animals to humans working in food preparation.

SARS was first reported in Asia in February 2003. The illness quickly spread

across 30 countries in East Asia, North America, South America, and Europe.

Before being declared contained in July 2003, the SARS outbreak claimed the

lives of 813 people and caused 8,347 cases human illness.

 

Chinese Live Animal Markets

 

Animals at Chinese live markets are kept in deplorable, over-crowded

conditions. Mammals and birds are crammed in wire cages where they can

hardly move. Fish flail helplessly in a thin layer of filthy water. Live

turtles and frogs are kept crammed in crates where animals on the bottom are

frequently crushed by the weight of the animals above. None of the animals

are fed, watered, sheltered from the elements or, least of all, have any

opportunity to exercise due to severe overcrowding.

 

As a result, market animals are frequently in seriously compromised health

because of these conditions. Animals taken from markets have been found to

be carrying Salmonella, E coli, Pasturella, Giardia, and a variety of

parasites.

 

What's more, slaughter methods employed by shop merchants show a complete

disregard for the animals suffering or for maintaining sanitary conditions.

Frogs are frequently skinned alive; turtles have their shells ripped from

their backs and have their intestines removed while conscious; live birds

are placed in plastic bags for sale.

 

Unsanitary and inhumane slaughter methods allow blood, intestinal contents,

feces and urine to contaminate the market environment. Market alleys are

periodically sprayed down with high-powered pressure hoses to clear the

streets of blood and excrement from slaughtered animals. Health researchers

believe that such practices create conditions conducive to cross infection

between animals and humans, as is the case with the SARS virus.

 

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