People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India on Monday released a video footage recorded at wet markets across the country revealing dog slaughter, wildlife-meat trade, and shockingly filthy conditions.
A wet market is a marketplace selling fresh meat, fish, and other perishable goods. The Animal rights organisation has demanded immediate closure of these illegal markets to prevent onset of another pandemic.
PETA has sent the letter to the ministers of Health and Family Welfare, Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries urging them to shut down these cruel and dangerous operations immediately.
The footage shows men at Delhi’s Ghazipur Murga Mandi slitting live chickens’ throats, skinning the birds, and sorting through their flesh soaked in blood and guts with their bare hands – as well as bags of live, struggling crabs and eels at a fish market in West Bengal’s Malancha.
The organisation said that it is in violation of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960; and Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
Peta India also alleged that in Manipur, sellers at the Nute Bazar trade charred remains of wild animals including monkeys, wild boars, porcupines, and deer. Meanwhile, at Churachandpur market, meat from various wild animals are sold openly in violation of laws.
“The next deadly virus will be just around the corner as long as these filthy wet markets are permitted to operate,” said PETA India Vegan Outreach Coordinator Dr Kiran Ahuja.
SARS and various deadly bird flu, including H5N1, which has a 60 per cent mortality rate in humans, have been linked to Chinese live-animal meat markets as well.
Other diseases like MERS, swine flu and even HIV and Ebola have also been traced back to animals, said Peta India.
Peta India has also written a letter to the Union health minister, environment minister and other concerned ministries, urging the closure of wet markets across the country.
