Extreme Suffering and Unregulated Conditions: Live Animal Markets During COVID-19
Harrowing new photos reveal intense animal suffering in live animal markets, as campaigners continue to call for their closure.
Credit: Amy Jones / Moving Animals
Graphic new photos show the extreme suffering, unregulated conditions, and hordes of animals awaiting slaughter, at live animal markets in Asia.
As part of the illegal and ‘legal’ wildlife trade, thousands of live animal markets thrive across Vietnam, in what has become a billion-dollar industry for the country.
Now, a joint-investigation by Moving Animals and Open Cages, documented these markets and found live frogs decapitated with scissors, caged turtles floundering on their backs, and fish being sliced and quartered whilst still alive.
Credit: Amy Jones / Moving Animals
“Ban these cruel live animal markets and the risk of another pandemic will be significantly reduced. We urge the Vietnamese authorities to close these facilities immediately”, says Connor Jackson, CEO of Open Cages.
Credit: Amy Jones / Moving Animals
Vietnam is currently drafting a directive to stop the lucrative trading and consumption of illegal wildlife, but it’s not yet known if this will apply to all wildlife species, or just those deemed ‘illegal’, such as pangolins.
Credit: Amy Jones / Moving Animals
“It’s also so important to remember that the suffering shown openly at these live animal markets occurs in the West too, except it happens behind closed doors. As we call for protection for the animals suffering in front of our eyes, we should also take a look in our own backyard, where billions of animals languish in factory farms”, added Amy Jones, of Moving Animals.
Credit: Amy Jones / Moving Animals
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