Herp news

This was on the latest edition of herp digest:

10) 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.

Rusty