China Killing Civet Cats (10,000!) in SARS Scare

[leftchick]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=541&ncid=716&e=2&u=/ap/20040106/ap_on_he_me/sars

<snip>GUANGZHOU, China - Racing against a self-imposed deadline, authorities in southern China drowned or electrocuted the first of thousands of civet cats Tuesday in an urgent effort to eliminate a possible source of the SARS (news - web sites) virus.

The mass slaughter of animals seized from wildlife markets in Guangdong province was launched despite appeals for caution by the World Health Organization (news - web sites). The U.N. agency said killing civets might destroy clues about the source of SARS and even help to spread the disease.

Authorities have ordered the deaths of some 10,000 civet cats — a weasel-like animal that is a local delicacy — and related wildlife by Saturday. Hundreds were killed on Tuesday and officials were checking highway traffic for smuggled animals.

Genetic tests have suggested a link between civets and the SARS virus diagnosed in a 32-year-old television producer in Guangdong — China's first case of the disease this season. China's government said Tuesday the patient has "fully recovered" and is expected to leave the hospital on Thursday.

[bif]

1. Maybe they could just quit eating them?

Wouldn't that be a whole lot easier?

[yellowcanine]

2. My thoughts exactly

This is just stupid. Why not try a large scale education program combined with fines for capturing and/or eating the civets? The Chinese Communists always seem to use a sledgehammer when a flyswatter would do the job.

[mmm]

3. me too

and I wish they would stop calling them cats

[Lorien]

11. Yep. Truly a group of dumbasses in control

It would be the same if African Nations killed all monkeys and apes for AIDS and ebola. DON'T EAT YOUR FELLOW CARNIVORES; IT AIN'T NATURAL! Defy nature and terrible things happen; just look at mad cow disease!

[RustyShackleford]

15. (sung to the tune of 'Cats in the Cradle')

they'll serve you cat and you'll ne-ver know,
once they fry it up crisp in dough,
fry it up crisp in dough.

[leftchick]

4. logical question, unfortunately for the civets and many other species....

the people in this province are known to eat anything and EVERYTHING on four legs! Sickening.....
:puke:

[54anickel]

5. They don't believe it comes from eating them. It's sort of like the

disease poulty farmers (can't think of the name) get from the feces.
In Indonesia, they make coffee from beans that have been digested by the civet. :puke:

http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/top/story/0,4136,27354-1055347140,00.html

Cute little bugger

http://www.cbc.ca/news/indepth/background/sars_civetcat.html

[yellowcanine]

9. It is not a question of whether eating them causes SARS

It is a question of whether the process of keeping civets in captivity for the purpose of eating them exposes people unnecessarily to the SARS virus. If one is feeding an animal and carting out its feces, the chances of exposure to diseases carried by that animal are higher than if the animal is running around in the woods.

[54anickel]

10. Sure, but then maybe we should stop eating chicken and turkey...

because of the risk of avian flu.
My reply to was to post #1 that simply stated "Maybe they should stop eating them".
Sorry if I misunderstood that post.

[BuckeFushe]

12. Logical assumption

But since most of China is stuck in the Eighteenth Century, and their governmant is as logical as slamming you head into a wall to cure a headache, remember, you can't make a mule sing opera, nor can you make an elephant learn ballet.

[DrWeird]

6. Yeah

like americans are going to stop eating beef.

[yellowcanine]

8. Not the same thing at all

Civets are wild animals - more like a weasel than a cat. You really can't compare the desire to eat beef to people wanting to eat weasels. Well you can, but it is not particularly helpful to understanding how to educate people about why they shouldn't eat civets.

[zbdent]

7. Don't say this too loud, there might be a WH person who might

want to become ambassador to China.

[progressivebydesign]

13. One point.

Okay two.

1) this is disgusting. But I guess these animals were considered food already? Weren't people eating these poor things? Sick!

2) Perhaps posters who support candidates, and have their photos a signature should consider turning that signature off on posts like these. I can't get the image of Wesley Clark out of my mind and I'm thinking of these poor slaughtered animals.. it's like my subconcious thinks Clark will be personally shooting them. Does that make sense? Bad association.

[leftchick]

14. No it does not make sense....

Sorry..... I am able to disassociate post content from signature lines. Try it, you may be surprised! :)

[SOS]

16. The worst famine in human history

was in China from 1958-1961. According to Joseph Becker's book "Hungry Ghosts - China's Secret Famine", 30-40 million starved to death.
Along with close planting and deep plowing directives Mao ordered:

"extreme pest control measures - an extreme campaign to control pests, including birds and insects. The sparrow bore the brunt of the pest control measure (the goal was to exterminate the bird). Unfortunately, with the decline in the sparrow population the insect population exploded, seriously compromising crops."

Watch out when the Chinese police state declares war on an animal! Their history in this area is as bad as their human rights record.

[54anickel]

17. ..

http://users.abcs.com/townsend/cat-kettle.htm

[BadGimp]

18. Cat: It's What's for Dinner

that seems like a lot cats to slaughter...I dunno

[truthisfreedom]

19. they don't really look like cats. take a look. more like a long rodent.

[demgrrrll]

20. Civet absolute is used in perfumes. Supposedly civet scent makes

perfumes last longer.

[SOS]

21. Here's what it looks like

Drowning civets in China yesterday.
Once again human stupidity leads to more suffering.