EWT speaks out on China’s ban on wildlife markets

The Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) has spoken out about China’s ban on wildlife markets.

EWT previously based in Modderfontein works across a range of projects to build capacity to combat illegal wildlife trade.

Prof Cheryl Cohen explains the virus at a press briefing at NICD office on Modderfontein Road on January 29.

The organisation does this to achieve its conservation mission and to support an environment that sustains healthy wildlife and people.

In a statement released on Wednesday last week the EWT welcomed the decision by Chinese authorities to ban the trade of wild animals.

Also read: MODDERFONTEIN: SA says it is ready to tackle deadly coronavirus – Audio

The EWT did, however, call for the Chinese government to make this a permanent rather than a temporary ban on the trade of wildlife.

China’s ban aims to block the spread of the coronavirus, which by January 29 had claimed the lives of at least 132 people.

During the ban, no wildlife can be sold in or moved between markets, including online markets.

The EWT said in its statements that international trade in wildlife has been linked to disease transmission across the globe.

The organisation stated that illegal markets threaten endangered species and lead to over exploitation of natural resources.

Of particular concern to the EWT is the spread of contagious diseases between animals in wildlife markets and humans who come into contact with them.

According to the EWT, illegal wildlife markets are not only a conservation and welfare issue, but a public health issue.

The Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention tested 585 samples of wildlife specimens present at the Wuhan’s Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market during the course of January and found 33 of these samples contained the coronavirus.

At the market, as in so many throughout China, customers could purchase carcasses and live animals from local and international origins.

African animals, such as crocodiles and pangolins, are also sold at these markets.

According to the EWT, disease is not the only danger consumers face from wildlife products.

In Africa, many of the animals that end up in the trade chain are killed using highly toxic pesticides. Residues of these poisons have been detected on animal parts from vultures, leopards, and a range of other species.

The EWT said that efforts to create awareness of this public health threat to local and international consumers must be supported by governments and organisations in the relevant countries, including China.

The Chinese government has in recent years taken increasing steps to curb the demand for wildlife products from Africa, which often end up in these wildlife markets.

In 2017, the government announced its plans to shut down domestic ivory trade.

In 2019, Chinese officials joined African countries in calling for an end to wildlife trafficking.

The EWT has stated that if the demand for illegal wildlife products persists, and markets go unregulated, populations will continue to be threatened by zoonotic diseases.

These are diseases that spread between animals and people.

The illegal wildlife markets threaten the survival of endangered and threatened species and lead to over exploitation of our planet’s limited resources.

The closest China has come to closing its wildlife markets was in 2003, following the SARS outbreak that killed almost 800 people.

This effort dissipated months later and regulation remained unchanged.

Understanding the threats these markets represent to both humans and wildlife, the EWT believe that now is the right time for China to announce a permanent ban on wildlife markets.