A shark caught in a net. (Global Times/Agencies Photo)
Our planet is losing animal species at an astounding rate – about 27,000 become extinct every year. When you break that down, it is about 74 every day and three every hour that are lost forever.
Unfortunately, over the years, China has contributed significantly to the decreasing population of many animals, eating such "delicacies" as bear's paw, shark's fin, tiger bones and cubilose. People consume these exotic items not only because of the traditional belief in their medicinal and nutritional value, but also because consumption of such expensive foods shows ff one's wealth and social status.
However, many non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that work with the government, media and local communities, are trying to dispel these myths in order to protect the environment.
WildAid, an NGO based in the US, set up its office in China in 2004 and has been working on increasing people's awareness of wildlife protection. Up to 1 billion people from all over the world are privy to WildAid's public advertisements every week.
Campaigns displayed at bus stops and subway stations in Beijing feature a picture of basketball star Yao Ming and a shark swimming in the background. The ad reads, "When the buying stops, the killing can too." Other famous athletes such as Li Ning, Ding Junhui and Zhang Yining have also lent their faces to the cause.
WildAid's research in 16 cities, including Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, found that consumers were misinformed about eating what have been traditionally thought of as "delicacies."
For example, 90 percent of shark's fin is eaten by Chinese. They assume the "delicacy" is extremely rich in nutritive value, but in fact, a bowl of chicken soup contains more calcium, carbohydrates, protein and energy than shark's fin soup.
Secondly, people assume deep-sea fi sh are completely safe because they do not venture near the numerous kinds of water pollutants found closer to the seashore. However, shark's fin contains a high level of mercury, which harms humans' brains and spines and is also fatal to fetus and affects men's fertility.
Thirdly, people think that it is reasonable to kill man's supposed natural enemy. What they do not know is that among the 490 shark species in the world, less than 30 of them attack people. In other words, only 6 percent of sharks are dangerous. Nevertheless, since 2000, the average number of people killed by a shark is 5.5 every year, while people kill more than 100 million sharks over the same period of time.
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