Recently, on the Internet, there is a hot topic about “Throw the pangolin to let it die, kill the white crane-like killing the chicken. This book should be removed from the bookstore”, and this topic has aroused a lot of hot discussions. The reason is that some netizens have found a book called “Yuechu Baodian Shicaipian 2” (Translation: Collection of Cantonese Cuisine Part II), which was published and released by Lingnan Art Publishing House in June 2018. The book involves a lot of descriptions and methods of killing wild animals, blindly promoting large-scale domestication and edible wild animals. Although the book takes food as its theme, most of its contents are about livestock, amphibious and reptile wildlife; at the same time, there are some popular science descriptions in the book, but they are very unprofessional, not rigorous, and have many errors, which greatly mislead the readers and consumers.

On February 24th, the 16th session of the Standing Committee of the 13th National People’s Congress voted to adopt the “Decision on Comprehensively Prohibiting the Illegal Wildlife Trade, Eliminating the Bad Habit of  Eating Wild Animals, and Effectively Safeguarding People’s Life, Health and Safety” (hereinafter referred to as the “Decision”). The Decision calls for resolutely implementing the important instructions of President Xi Jinping and the decision making and deployment of the Party Central Committee. Therefore, the improper description in this book is not conducive to national ecological security and public health security.

The Pangolin Working Group of China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF) pays close attention to this incident and will send official letters to the relevant departments, hoping that they can pay attention to this situation, promote the strict examination and approval system for such improper description, and immediately rectify, ban and release relevant books with wild animals as food materials. It is hoped that relevant departments can play a leading role, jointly respond to and implement the relevant national “Decision”, help the construction of ecological civilization in China, and promote green and sustainable development.

Previously, CBCGDF has sent a letter to the General Administration of Press and Publication, reflecting the existence of an improper description of wild animals in the publications. The book office of the publication bureau of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee promptly responded that it attached great importance to the publication of ecological protection books and would strengthen supervision to ensure the correct orientation of the publications.

(Photo credit: CBCGDF volunteers)

By / Tongtong Modified / Maggie