HerpDigest™

SOUTHERN CHINA IS NOT THE ONLY SOURCE FOR VOLATILE LIVE ANIMAL MARKETS

Southern China Is Not the Only Source for Volatile Live Animal Markets 
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.