Animals Asia's response to China Daily article on wild dishes

[Guest guest]

Dear all,

Below please find a letter sent to the China Daily in response to their

story on the decline in consumption of wild dishes in Guangdong. I've

also enclosed the article we're responding to for your reference.

Best,

Nicole.

 

August 24, 2005

 

China Daily--Hong Kong Edition

Letters to the Editor

Room 1818 Hing Wai Centre

7 Tin Wan Praya Road

Aberdeen, Hong Kong

 

Dear Editor:

 

I am writing on behalf of Animals Asia Foundation in response to your

article of August 22, 2005, " Discerning Diners Stay Away From Wild

Dishes. "

 

While it is true that markets in Guangdong, and Xinyuan in particular,

are selling fewer wild animals openly, trading has undoubtedly continued

behind closed doors. Traveling to the market just a few weeks ago, our

investigators found that although many traders were scared of being

captured on camera, the market was still brimming with wild and

endangered species, especially snakes, which are outlawed by the

post-SARS measures.

 

Also, the article states that " only wild ducks, pigeons, chickens, and

cats are allowed to be sold. " Unfortunately, this is not the case: each

week, in addition to domestic rabbits and many other species of birds,

thousands upon thousands of dogs and cats are packed into tiny cages and

then cruelly slaughtered in Xinyuan market. Additionally, diseases such

as parvo virus, canine distemper and leptospirosis are rife and spread

like wildfire in dogs whose immune systems are already low due to severe

stress, depression and starvation. We often witness a large number of

dead and diseased dogs and cats which have been pulled out of the cages

and slung by the side.

 

Animals Asia's " Friends...or Food? " campaign seeks to find solutions to

end dog and cat eating through investigation and cultural

understanding. Our positive animal therapy programmes, Doctor Dog and

Professor Paws, are elevating the profile of companion animals all

across Asia.

 

Sincerely,

 

Nicole Hess

Education and Research Coordinator

 

Animals Asia, Hong Kong

www.animalsasia.com.cn <http://www.animalsasia.com.cn/>

 

 

Discerning diners stay away from wild dishes

 

www.chinaview.cn 2005-08-22 08:51:12

 

BEIJING, Aug. 22 -- It has been two years since Guangdong Province

banned the sale of wild animals for cooking after the outbreak of SARS

(severe acute respiratory syndrome) in 2003.

But some Guangdong residents have yet to refrain from eating wild

animals, though most people frown upon the idea.

Wang Ligang, a Guangzhou local, said he loved to eat wild animals before

the ban. " It tasted good and was expensive, something the diner was proud

of, " Wang said.

He said treating his business partners to such delicacies was the best

way to make them feel honoured and respected.

Since civet cats were determined to be the main carriers of SARS virus,

the Guangdong provincial government banned the sale of the animal and other

wild animals, such as pangolins and owls, in 2003. In August of that year,

the Guangdong Provincial People's Congress worked out a proposal that urged

residents to give up eating wild animals.

After the ban was imposed, only a few species of wild creatures were

available in the market, such as wild chickens and wild pigeons.

Xinyuan Market, which is located in suburban Guangzhou, with an annual

trading volume of 800 million yuan (US$99 million), at that time, was the

largest wild animal market in Asia before the outbreak of SARS.

" The current situation is totally different from the past, " said Chen

Zhihe, a trader in the market.

More than 100 stalls sold wild animals in the past, but now Chen is one

of the one dozen or so traders who still stick to the trade.

" Only wild ducks, pigeons, chickens and cats are allowed to be sold, "

Chen said.

Because fewer and fewer people eat wild animals, Chen's business has

gone downhill. He said he would leave the market once his stock had sold

out.

Before the end of the year, Xinyuan Market will be changed into an

ordinary market that sells meat and vegetables. The source of wild animals

will certainly dry up further, Chen said.

Restaurants and residents are having trouble finding wild animals for

their dinner tables. In Guangzhou, most wild animal restaurants have taken

the banned animals off the menu.

China Daily visited 10 restaurants that had once served up wild animals

and they said that they now consider continuing the business as too risky.

(Source: China Daily)

 

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-08/22/content_3386368.htm