Places of death for animals

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