
China has banned eating wildlife, thus putting an end to the wildlife markets that have come under criticism recently. After all, the COVID-19 pandemic is thought to have originated in one of these animal markets. The permanent ban on wildlife trade and consumption is considered a positive move. Why? The hope is that with this ban, humans will have a smaller chance of exposure to animal viruses. It’s a start, but critics believe that China needs to enforce a complete ban, not a ban that allows exceptions (the use of wildlife in traditional medicine is still allowed). Nevertheless, this is a first step towards protecting both animals and humans alike!