The images below were taken in "wet
markets" in Hong Kong.
The Wanchai photos were taken on July
25, 1999.
This is just a glimpse of the numerous
markets throughout Asia
offering turtles and other animals as
food.
All species of turtles and tortoises
in these markets (and throughout Asia)
face a critically unstable future.
This is not only unacceptable, it's incredibly
sad.
These animals are crudely slaughtered
while still fully conscious, and
feel ALL of the pain, while parts of their
own
bodies are slowly cut away.
:-(
Thousands of animals are sold and inhumanely
slaughtered daily. Wild turtles
and tortoises reproduce and mature
VERY slowly, nowhere quickly enough to meet
the enormous strain of mass collection.
No species of chelonia is immune.
All Asian species of tortoises and turtles
need immediate help and international protection
before they're collected to the point
of extinction. For many species, some of which have yet
to be studied or even named, it may already
be too late.
(The top photo is of Cuora galbinifrons
and Cuora amboinensis
in Wanchai Market, Hong Kong, awaiting
purchase for slaughter.)
