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After the coronavirus outbreak, related to wildlife meat, that started in china making over 3000 plus victims there, Chinese authorities decided to ban the trade and consumption of wild animals.

As of the 1st May, a new law will come into force in Shenzhen extending the ban to dogs and cats.

“Dogs and cats as pets have established a much closer relationship with humans than all other animals, and banning the consumption of dogs and cats and other pets is a common practice in developed countries and in Hong Kong and Taiwan,” the Shenzhen city government said, according to a Reuters report.

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“This ban also responds to the demand and spirit of human civilization.”

As a reminder, according to the Humane Society International (HSI), thirty million dogs a year are killed across Asia for meat.

“This really could be a watershed moment in efforts to end this brutal trade that kills an estimated 10 million dogs and 4 million cats in China every year,” said Dr Peter Li, China policy specialist for HSI.

However, on the other side, China decided to once again exploit wildlife, despite the process is painful and distressing for the animals. Indeed, the country has approved the use of bear bile to treat coronavirus patients though there is no proof that it is effective against it.

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“We shouldn’t be relying on wildlife products like bear bile as the solution to combat a deadly virus that appears to have originated from wildlife.” Explained Brian Daly, a spokesman for the Animals Asia Foundation, to AFP.

Note: Bear bile is a digestive fluid that is extracted from living captive bears. It has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine.