Phnom Penh: The World-Wide Fund for Nature in Cambodia is urging people to stop consuming wild meat. This is in response to the World Health Organization’s report that countries around the globe should prepare for another outbreak of zoonotic diseases. Head of Communications, Advocacy and Knowledge Management at WWF, Mr. Tep Asnarith, told EAC News that stopping the trade in illegal wildlife can help prevent any future public health crises.

He says over the past four years, WWF and its government partners, including the Provincial Department of Environment, have confiscated 3,200 kilograms of wild meat. This includes barking deer, elongated tortoises, wild pigs, water monitor lizards, porcupines as well as the endangered banteng, gaur and green peafowl. He also says law enforcement teams have seized a total of 166 dead animals intended for human consumption and traditional medicine.

“By adopting a cessation of wild meats and products, people need to recognize that the wild meats are dangerous and consuming them can put their health at high risks. In fact, hunting and storing wildlife are illegal, while the trade in wild meat and wild product are prohibited by Cambodia’s protected area and forestry laws.”

Mr. Asnarith says to ensure the health and safety of Cambodians, as well as to prevent any future outbreaks of other zoonotic diseases, like Covid-19, urgent and appropriate measures are needed to end the trade in wild animals – especially mammals, birds and reptiles which are at high risk of transmitting disease-causing viruses and bacteria to humans.