Would you like bear paw soup with your fries?
I’m picking up a lot of news this week that is truly disturbing. Hot on the heels of my recent post on plastic surgery in China, comes the news that the dining habits of people eating in restaurants in Malaysia is contributing to the extinction of endangered species. Illegally operated restaurants serve up tigers, bear paw soup, panthers, civet cats, macaques and even porcupines. People who demand that these endangered species be on the menu believe that the meat of these animals has varying degrees of potency. Tiger penis for example is believed to boost sexual virility.
Even more distressing than thinking about these beautiful creatures being cooked and dished up to satisfy human stupidity, is the fact that only 8 restaurant owners have been prosecuted in the past 5 years, with the top fine being M$5,000 (or around AUD$1800). Many of the restaurants involved are taking advantage of the fact that these “delicacies” are becoming increasingly scarce and are charging exhorbitant prices so they can cash in on these species’ misfortune. Gotta love human compassion!
Made in Australia
