Worries heighten amidst a global pandemic as the the public calls for governments in Southeast Asia to ban unregulated wildlife markets
What is a zoonotic disease? Terminology like this, while possibly unfamiliar, are becoming relevant now more than ever. The new diseases that have greeted us at the turn of the millenium — SARS, MERS, Ebola, and now COVID-19 — are all zoonotic, having been transmitted from animals to humans. And although questions remain about the exact origins of the new virus, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed one thing: it has come from wildlife.
Now, take a moment to leave the technical phraseologies behind and ponder on the implications of this. In February, China announced a comprehensive ban on the consumption of wild animals. Neighbouring governments in Southeast Asia are following suit, taking steps to prohibit the hunt, trade, transport, and consumption of wild animals.
In a survey done by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), 4,100 out of 5,000 people from Hong Kong, Japan, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam responded that they were extremely or very worried about the outbreak. Meanwhile, 4,650 out of the pool were in support of governments to eliminate illegal and unregulated markets. This benefits wildlife, which are constantly exploited for the market, and the collective health of our global society.
Marco Lambertini, Director General of the WWF International says:
It is time to connect the dots between wildlife trade, environmental degradation and risks to human health. Taking action now for humans as well as the many wildlife species threatened by consumption and trade is crucial for all of our survival.
In the survey, only nine percent stated that they or someone they know had purchased wildlife in the past 12 months at an open wildlife market. While this sounds like a measly percentage, in conversion, that’s 450 people engaged in possibly irresponsible wildlife acquisition. Now, 84 percent are unlikely or very unlikely to buy wildlife products in the future.
While now is hardly the time to point fingers, it is crucial for our scientists to understand the origins of COVID-19 to create an effective type of cure or vaccine. To trace this disease down to its roots could expose irresponsible actions done by one or a handful of people that has now affected 185 countries globally, upending economies, infected more than a million, and led to devastation on a micro and macro level in society. Far from being alarmist, this call should be taken as a call to responsibility from both governments and individuals.
The fight against COVID-19 is far from over, but taking action to prevent future pandemics, while maintaining a healthy ecosystem for our wildlife, is one of the greatest steps we can take as early as now.
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