Wuhan officially bans consumption of wild animals in wake of COVID-19 pandemic

Wuhan authorities have anunced a ban on consumption of wild animals and farmers are being offered a government buy-out to facilitate transition. local ministration of Wuhan, first epicentre of coronavirus outbreak, reportedly said that wildlife hunting will be banned except for research purpose, population control, and disease monitoring, ding that city will become a “wildlife sanctuary”.

origin of SARS-CoV-2 is t kwn but preliminary studies suggested that bats could be source since coronavirus present in bats has a geme that is 96 per cent identical to vel coronavirus. It is believed that wildlife market in Wuhan caused virus to transmit through ar host, probably pangolin because bat coronavirus cant bind to receptors in human cells, however, re has t been any concrete evidence.

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According to plan published on May 15, Hunan and Jiangxi provinces have provided an exit strategy for wildlife farmers who will be compensated, allowing m to opt for alternative livelihoods such as growing fruit, vegetables, tea plants, or herbs for tritional Chinese medicine. Dr Peter Li, Humane Society International’s China policy specialist, said in a statement that se provinces are demonstrating global leership by subsidising wildlife breeders to transition to alternative livelihoods.

“Chinese farmers t only have an opportunity to leave a tre that poses a direct threat to human health but also to transition to more humane and sustainable livelihoods such as growing plant foods popular in Chinese cuisine,” said Li.

Shenzhen banned consumption of cat and dog meat

In April, Shenzhen became first Chinese city to ban sale and consumption of cat and dog meat after coronavirus outbreak was linked to consumption of wildlife meat. food safety legislation was proposed in February which came into effect from May 1, extending prohibition on consumption, breeding, and sale of wildlife such as snakes, lizards, and or wild animals.

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(Im: AP)