to think this is seriously fucking fucked up?

[LoopyLoopsIsTentativelyBack]

I've searched and searched in the vain hope this is an April fools joke. Apparently not. :(

live tortoises sold in keyrings

This has made me really angry and sad. What the bloody hell is going on in this world?

that's true buggerlugs.

dear God

Bloody hell that is so totally out of order I'm speechless !

i really wish i hadnt clicked.

Bloody hell that is so out of order, I am speechless !

I won't click, my mental health is fragile enough at the moment.

It's china though, what do you expect?

Horrible

But China doesn't exactly have an exemplary record on the rights of humans or animals

oh god....why do people buy them? why?

OMG that's awful. Just when you think these stories can't get any worse.

I'm sure this kind of thing does go on in various places, but China has rather a history, doesn't it?

Fucking disgraceful country when it comes to human or animal welfare.

Urgh, I checked Snopes and it's true. :(

In some countries human life is cheap, let alone animals lives .

I have no idea why people buy them but supply mets demand and until they do it will probably continue :(

When I read the link silly sappy me had to go and check on my 2 torts to check they were ok!

I can't click, it's too horrible.

The Cove and Sharkwater are films that are well worth watching if anyone is interested in marine conservation and the horror that goes on on parts of the world.

Buying them to free them would be no good, as someone has pointed out - it would just promote more trade.

But if I saw a street vendor like the one pictured, I'd be rather tempted to get together with a few similar-minded friends and mug them for their entire stock to release them into the nearest river.

I was so disturbed by this that I contacted IFAW to ask them what was being done about it. Here is there reply:

Thank you for your recent email regarding the live animals being used in key rings in China. We share your concern for the appalling suffering of these animals.

The central government is working with IFAW and other groups in China to draft national animal welfare legislation which is the only way to ensure the humane treatment of animals for the long-term. The best way to improve the situation in China is to recognise and actively support the many citizens there who are trying to address this issue. We have a strong presence in China and have helped establish schemes and projects aimed at educating the public about animal welfare, and ultimately changing attitudes towards companion animals.

You may wish to contact the organisation PETA who have commented on this issue previously and may be able to provide you with an update. Their details are:

PETA
PETA Foundation
PO Box 36678
London
SE1 1YE

[email protected]

Tel: 0207 357 9229

Please join me by contacting PETA so we can stop this happening.

Horrible
Did u post this on Facebook as one of my friends did and I am wondering if you are her! [busmile]

But can we talk about it without reference to "these Asian countries", please? hmm

But unfortunately its true especially China,

The bears who have their intestinal bile used for shampoo kept in tiny cages and maimed,

Fish that are served and cut up alive? Both China.

Shark fin soup anyone?

hoebag from what I read a few years ago the same applied to tortoises too - sold alive and killed there and then for the buyer. The outcry at the time was because it was a well known British supermarket chain that owned that particular Chinese chain of shops.

I believe the outcome was similar to the mn and swcnbn - legal action against the newspaper who first published the story.

That's so awful. But I wish I could say I was surprised. Unfortunately 'these asian countries' are some of the top culprits for animal abuse. I've been to several of them and seen some horrible horrible things.

One of the images that's stayed with me down the years was a sunday street market in Malaysia selling live puppies and kittens, some of whom were long-haired and clearly in distress in almost 40 degree heat.

Sorry missed out a word - mn and swcnbn debacle

So basically they last a couple of weeks slowly starving and eventually suffocating to death

Just dug out my tortoise bible - practical encyclopaedia of keeping and breeding tortoises and freshwater turtles by A.Highfield (2008) - it recommends a min ratio of 2:3 (w:l) for space for turtles :(