SARS Prompts Crackdown on Wildlife Trade

by Amanda Katz and Sarah Wahlert

Speculation among scientists that the virus responsible for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) can be contracted by consumption of wild animal meat recently prompted Chinese officials to raid thousands of restaurants, hotels and animal fairs.

"The operation was aimed at stopping the trade in and consumption of (members of) protected species," said a police spokesperson. During the raids, which were conducted by nearly 170,000 officers, approximately 838,500 animals were seized and more than 1,400 suspects were arrested.

Individuals found guilty of participating in the trade of members of endangered species in China can be sentenced to as many as 15 years in prison.

"We have a law that says consumers must also be punished," the spokesperson stated. "This law has been around for a while, but we have never punished anyone for consuming. We will punish them from now on."

"Even if the SARS virus did not evolve from animals in the markets, the conditions present an ideal environment in which other unknown or new viruses may incubate and emerge," said Animals Asia Foundation Veterinary Director Gail Cochrane, DVM. "The only way to minimize the threat of new viruses being transmitted is to close the markets down."

© 2003 Animal News Center, Inc.