If you travel to China or the Far East, you can be sure to find unusual things being sold on the street. Souvenirs there are very different from the ones we sell in America. I didn't realize how different they were, until I came across a very informative article and this pretty unbelievable video.
Instead of beaded or plastic animal keychains for sale, some street vendors in China are putting live animals in pouches and selling them. I almost couldn't believe my eyes when I read about this horrific practice. Vendors stuff living, breathing turtles, fish, and salamanders into tiny pouches of colored water, string them on a gold keyring or necklace, and distribute them to the public.
Vendors claim that this tiny, insignificant amount of water is packed full of nutrients that will keep the animals alive for months. I can't imagine these poor creatures can live longer than a few days without any oxygen and lack of food, not to mention room to grow! The problems with this are absolutely endless. Animal activists agree, and there are several petitions out on the internet imploring this practice to change.
You would think the fact that people are actually buying these abusive decorations would be the worst part, but the fact that it's not so easy to stop is by far the scariest aspect of this disgusting trend. Activists working against this abuse are having a difficult time halting the practice, as China has a complete lack of animal cruelty laws. The only law in place that protect animals is the Wildlife Protection Law, and unfortunately these tiny fish, lizards, and turtles do not fall under its protection.
This trend absolutely must stop before any more animals are harmed in China! It is our responsibility as humans to protect our animal counterparts, no matter how small and easy they are to stuff inside of a keychain!
Please SHARE this article with your friends and family on Facebook to spread awareness of this awful practice and encourage it to stop. Our small creatures will thank us!!
