BREAKING NEWS: Bipartisan congressional letter calls for end to live wildlife markets
By Kitty Block and Sara Amundson
Wildlife markets and related trade are a dangerous vector for transmission of zoonotic diseases. We applaud this bipartisan congressional letter calling for aggressive action toward a global shut down of live wildlife markets and a ban on the international trade of live wildlife that is not intended for conservation purposes. Photo by pasindu/pixabay
Consistent with the recommendations in Wildlife Markets and COVID-19, the Humane Society International report released earlier this week, and our own messaging on the pandemic, Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Representatives Mike Quigley (D-Ill.) and Michael McCaul (R-Texas) and more than sixty of their colleagues have sent an urgent letter seeking action from three major global health entities. In their communication to the Directors-General of the World Health Organization, the World Organization for Animal Health and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, they asked the three groups “to take aggressive action toward a global shut down of live wildlife markets and a ban on the international trade of live wildlife that is not intended for conservation purposes.” This is one of several calls by elected officials for worldwide action to reduce future pandemic risks.
Humane Society Legislative Fund staff members worked closely with Democratic and Republican congressional offices to develop the case laid out in the joint letter. Together with leadership on both sides of the aisle, we’re going to work to step up the pressure to shut these markets down.
In Wildlife Markets and COVID-19, our colleagues urged governments around the world at all levels to ban or severely limit all trade, transport and consumption of wildlife, immediately. The Humane Society of the United States, the Humane Society Legislative Fund and Humane Society International have long pointed to wildlife markets and related trade as a dangerous vector for transmission of zoonotic diseases. We’ve stated the case plainly ourselves. We must close wildlife markets selling wild animals, particularly mammals and birds, in every nation, and we must halt the import, export and internal transport of live wildlife or wildlife meat intended for sale in such markets or in other contexts, whether the animals were captured in the wild or farmed. It’s not just for the animals’ sake; it’s for our own.
Sara Amundson is president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund.
I hope they close all of that crazy animal killing in the whole world.
Tenemos que acabar con los mercados de la vida silvestre no es posible que sigamos abusando de la naturaleza y de los animalitos esto tiene que acabar
What kind of people buy products made from baby seal skins? They must have absolutely no conscience. And I have heard the Canadian fishing industry claims they must kill seals, because the seals eat too many fish, and that destroys their income. Scientific experts state this claim is false, but nonetheless the fishing industry keeps spouting it. The United States has its own problems with inhumane practices, like fur farming, but this seal hunt is especially reprehensible. I don’t think humans deserve this planet.
The whole world has to draw a line in the sand and insist that no culture or country has the right to make the world sick and economies crash !! Wet/wildlife markets must be shut down immediately and permanently.
These markets are proven breeding grounds for deadly novel viruses and notorious torture chambers for smuggled wildlife. These stressed and sick animals have viruses that mutate and jump species to human.
We cannot allow the world to get sick and people die just to appease an appetite for pangolin, bat, civet cat, wolf pup and all exotic animal meat!!!
“Any society which does not insist upon respect for ALL life MUST necessarily DECAY” EINSTEIN
i agrre for the animals and the world we dont want more corona viruses
Pleases end this terrible suffering and inhumane practice of wild animals to avoid other pandemic desastre.
Ban live or dead wildlife markets!