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15 May 2003
By Associated Press
YANGON, Myanmar — Myanmar authorities seized
hundreds of wild and endangered animals during raids on four Yangon
restaurants that
serve exotic meats, a weekly magazine reported.
In the raids conducted
on April 30, police and Forest Department officials seized four
armadillos, 68 fresh water turtles, 18 tortoises,
two monitor lizards, and 283 snakes, including 252 vipers, 30 cobras,
and one python, the Burmese-language 7 Day News reported in its
latest issue. It said three pigeons and 10 water ducks also were
seized,
adding that all the animals were to be released in their natural
habitats. It gave no other details, and forestry
officials were not immediately available for comment.
The restaurant
owners, three of whom are foreigners, face up to seven years
in prison if found guilty of killing, hunting, and
selling
wild and endangered animals. Armadillos and monitor lizards are
among endangered species.
Customers pay exorbitant prices for
dishes made of wild or endangered animal meat, believing them
to have medicinal properties. Many
eat the exotic meat simply for the novelty.
Restaurant owners say a majority of their customers are from
Hong Kong, Taiwan, and China.
Source: Associated Press
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