Flying foxes for sale as food on roadside near Medan in Sumatra, Indonesia - despite risk of viruses

What are these cute animals with big beautiful eyes and foxy faces? The bare skin on their arms is a clue - they are Greater Flying Foxes filmed upside down - not, as you might at first think, standing on tiptoes but hanging from the wire of their cage. The traffic noise is because they are being sold on the side of the road for food near Medan, Sumatra in Indonesia - filmed a few years ago but still happening today.
This spectacular species of megabat, Pteropus vampyrus, is one of the largest fruit bats in the world (absolutely NOT vampires despite the unfortunate Latin name that dates from less well informed times). With a wing-span up to 1.5m (5ft) they are big enough to be hunted for food, and often as here sold live to passing motorists. These intelligent social mammals are clearly stressed and suffering from their cruel treatment, which not only affects the bats but also poses a threat to human health. Bat viruses can jump species. The 1998 outbreak of Nipah Virus, which can be fatal in humans, originated in this species in Malaysia.
#Zoonoticdiseases are often associated with #deforestation and hunting for the meat of wild animals, or #bushmeat, which is why in the midst of the #Covid19 pandemic many are calling for an end to the trade:
https://endthetrade.com/
https://www.bornfree.org.uk/news/campaign-to-close-wildlife-markets
https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/international/pdfs/End-Wildlife-Trade.pdf
https://www.worldanimalprotection.org/take-action/end-global-wildlife-trade-forever
Please take action in support of these campaigns and share these links.
Thank you.

Видео Flying foxes for sale as food on roadside near Medan in Sumatra, Indonesia - despite risk of viruses канала Ian Redmond