In
China, live fish, turtles and other amphibians are being sold as keychains and
mobile phone charms. For the accessories the
animals are fully sealed within small plastic bags, causing animal
rights groups to condemn the practice as ‘cruel’.
Most
commonly sold outside of train and subway stations in the major cities, the
animals can be seen paddling/swimming within a small amount of colored water.
Reportedly, the keychains can be bought for as little as $1.50.
Venders
have claimed that each keychain contains enough crystallized oxygen and
nutrients to keep the animals alive.
Sealed
within the bags is either a fish, young Chinese soft-shell turtle—which as
adults are popular within Chinese dishes— or an amphibian.
Within
the bag, the animals can survive no longer than a few days. A vendor told CNN,
that the animals must be cut out of the bag before the air runs out, otherwise
they would suffocate.
Animal
rights groups have dubbed that keychains ‘inhumane’, and have highlighted that
more animal protection laws are needed within the country.
Although
many petitions aimed at banning the keychains have circulated, the small
animals are still being contained and sold within their plastic coffins.
The
keychains are particularly popular with young people, who reportedly see them
as fashionable accessories.
The
manufacture and sale of the keychains is a practice of severe animal cruelty,
and an almost certain death sentence for many of these tiny creatures.
Unfortunately, these keychains are likely to remain being sold on the streets
of China. It is time for China to implement meaningful animal cruelty laws, and
recognize the importance of treating all living animals with care and respect.
Source
: Anonhq.com