INVESTIGATION: Filthy Asian ‘Wet Markets’ Are Still Selling Scared Animals and Rotting Flesh
New video shows live-animal markets in Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam, where bats, monkeys, and other exotic animals are still being sold.
PETA: After releasing footage inside “wet markets” (also called “live-animal markets”) in Indonesia and Thailand in early April—months after the COVID-19 outbreak began — PETA Asia investigators observed more filth, misery, and death at nearly a dozen other animal markets elsewhere in Asia. Despite a growing death toll, world leaders calling for a ban on such markets, and the continued importance of flattening the curve, these markets and others like them are still conducting business as usual.
New footage, captured just days ago, takes viewers inside live-animal markets in Cambodia, China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam, where chickens, ducks, fish, dogs as well as bats, monkeys, and other exotic animals were sold… Weeks before, PETA Asia investigators visited wet markets in Indonesia and Thailand, shocked even back then that any were still operating…
Both live, terrified animals as well as bloody carcasses and rotting flesh were being peddled for human consumption. At multiple sites, investigators observed market-goers walking around in flip-flops on floors covered with assorted bodily fluids and handling raw flesh and touching blood-streaked countertops without gloves. At two other markets, civet cats and bats were sold for food—even though they’re a reservoir species for severe acute respiratory syndrome (commonly known as SARS), another infamous, deadly coronavirus…
At the Tomohon Market in Indonesia, the flesh of wild boars, snakes, dogs, and rats (whose babies like to put their arms around their mother’s neck while being bathed) were openly sold at the market. Gloveless workers and customers were seen handling the body parts of animals who had been killed on site. A mutilated snake was curled up on a table, blood staining the white tiles red. Chickens with open wounds were bound to other birds awaiting slaughter…
At Bangkok’s Khlong Toei Market, PETA Asia’s investigator saw bags jam-packed with live, frightened frogs (some of whom use trees as “drums” to send messages to one another) being plunked down next to the mutilated bodies of other slaughtered frogs… Live turtles (some of whom can hold their breath under water for over 100 days) and other “exotic” sea animals were also available for purchase. Like all animals, they just want to be left in peace, not killed for food…
All wet markets are potential breeding grounds for zoonotic diseases, such as COVID-19, SARS, and MERS. At such markets, feces and other bodily fluids can easily get on traders’ and customers’ shoes and be tracked into restaurants and homes… PETA Asia has written to health officials in Cambodia, China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam to call for an end to deadly live-animal markets.
Shutting down foreign “wet markets” isn’t good enough… To prevent more diseases like COVID-19, we must do more than crack down on these markets only in certain areas of the world. All live-animal markets must go, including the hundreds that operate right here in the U.S… Join PETA in urging the World Health Organization to call for an end to deadly live-animal markets around the globe… And there is one decisive action that we can all take right now to help prevent the next global pandemic: Ditch meat, eggs, and dairy. SOURCE…
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