The Covid-19 pandemic is believed to have passed from animals to humans at a wildlife market in Wuhan, China. Known as “wet markets,” markets like the one in Wuhan offer a variety of exotic animal species for sale, such as pangolins, snakes, bats, and civets. The animals are sold both alive and as carcasses for food and for use in traditional medicines.
In response to the pandemic, members of Congress sent a letter to the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) urging the closure of wildlife markets and a ban on the international trade of live wildlife that is not intended for conservation purposes.
Born Free USA is proud to have worked on this bipartisan effort by urging members of Congress to sign onto the letter and providing necessary information about international wildlife trade.