Covid-19 pandemic spurs 30 per cent to reduce or stop consuming wildlife, poll finds
- Wild animals seen as main source of coronavirus outbreak by nearly 60 per cent of respondents in China, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and the US
- More than 6,600 people were asked about their attitudes to the wildlife trade, government action, and future pandemics
And almost 60 per cent believed wildlife was the main source of the coronavirus outbreak.
The survey of more than 6,600 people in China, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and the United States looked at attitudes towards the wildlife trade, government action on it, and future pandemics.
“We think it is critical at this juncture to think how we can address the causes of the pandemic and not just how we react to them,” said WWF communications manager Mia Signs.
The question of how future pandemics can be prevented will be a key focus of the WHA, and managing the relationship between humans and nature to ensure animal and human health has become a priority for the WHO. It said on Thursday it had formed an expert panel called One Health with three other global bodies to advise on the risk of diseases spreading from animals to humans.