Places of death for animals

The bird markets of Jakarta, Surabaya and elsewhere in Indonesia are infamous throughout the world. Here, some of the world's most precious and endangered animals (the very heritage of the children of Indonesia) are sold in the open, despite the fact that they are supposed to be protected by both Indonesian and international law. In the past, only animal lives were involved.

However, with the recent deaths in and around Jakarta from bird flu, people should have every reason to fear the bird markets and to demand that they be shut down--forever.

Animals can transmit many diseases to people; these diseases are called zoonoses. The risk that animals can acquire such diseases, and then pass them to people, is directly related not only to the cleanliness in which the animals are kept and the hygiene of the people who are in contact with them, but also to how closely together the animals are packed and how stressed they are.

Avian influenza is a zoonosis. The birds in bird markets are packed together very closely in cages. They are frequently stressed by dehydration, inadequate food, oppressive heat and by the hundreds of people walking by and peering into their cages.

The bird markets are the perfect places for bird flu to thrive! And if a pet bird is brought home from Pramuka, Jatinegara, Barito, Bratang or any of Indonesia's other oppressive bird markets, it could spread bird flu far and wide.

Birds seized from the markets or from smugglers could be tested for influenza and, if free of disease, turned over to expert wildlife rehabilitators for care.

The cruelty and disregard for the protection of Indonesia's special wildlife that is evident in the bird markets should be an embarrassment to the Indonesian people. However, since "just animals" are involved, many people have ignored this problem. Now, human lives are at stake. It is time to close down the bird markets now and forever.

STEWART A. METZ Jakarta