QJ.NET | iPhone | MMORPG | Nintendo DS | Wii | PlayStation 3 | PSP | Xbox 360 | Downloads | QJ.NET Forums

Endangered cuisine: Animals facing threats from chefs

Posted Sep 25, 2006 at 06:46AM by Alaric S. Listed in: Animals and Wildlife Tags: SARS, ELEAWTA
Ó

sea turtle


In many cultures, eating wild animals is part of their tradition. These traditions deserved to be respected but when endangered animals are involved, we think these age-old practices should be strictly regulated or even stopped to allow animal populations to recover.

Shark fin soup is a good example of an environmentally-destructive dish. That's just the appetizer.

In southern China, the joke goes, the Cantonese will eat anything with four legs except a table. Some Chinese restaurants in Jiangmen offer alligators, slugs, and sea turtle (about US$ 21 per kilogram). They also eat palm civet, which proved disastrous when the animals passed the SARS virus to humans.

But you don't have to go to China to find endangered cuisine. Some nutcase proposed to establish a group called ELEAWTA (Eating Lethal and Endangered Animals While They're Alive). We're not sure if he was serious or what but there are supposedly super-secret clubs out there that get together just to dine on endangered species. Talk about bad taste!

Most endangered animals are eaten not for their flavor but for prestige and because of some supposed health benefits such as improving the sex drive. Most of these so-called health benefits are unfounded. The eyes, whiskers, bones, eyes, and other parts of the tiger are used in traditional Chinese medicine to cure treat insomnia, malaria, meningitis, rheumatism, ulcer, typhoid, and other ailments. The demand fuels illegal trade and poaching.

As for the sex drive, take a Viagra, damn it.

Here is a list of some endangered animals that you probably didn't know end up on someone's dinner plate:
  • Gorillas and Chimpanzees. They are generally butchered, smoked, and sold as bush meat. Smoked apes are becoming more popular in Africa.
  • Green Turtles. Cooked slowly into various types of stew. Young turtles are grilled or sauteed. Turtle blood is also used as beverage.
  • Chinese Giant Salamanders. The the world’s largest amphibian, which grows to as much as 110 pounds and five feet in length, is steamed or turned into soup.
  • Elephants. The tender trunk and feet are considered the best parts to eat. Generally smoked and used in stews and soups.
  • Pangolins.The pangolin is a scaly, anteater-type animal found in Asia. The meat, served smoked or steamed, sells at nearly US$ 100/kg and sought after by gourmets, wealthy businessmen, and traditional medicine practitioners. The scales and blood are mixed with herbs to be taken as medicines.
  • Black bears. The meat is often cubed and slow-cooked in stews. They are also sauteed, baked, or served as steak.
  • Rhinoceros. The horn is pounded into powder and mixed with milk or water, sometimes snorted to cure bloody noses. The roasted legs and feet are considered a delicacy.
  • Blue Whales. Cooked much like beef, grilled like a steak, fried or seared in oil. It is also served as sushi in Japan.
  • Dolphins. Muchame is an Italian dish made from meat extracted from the dolphin’s dorsal fin. The delicacy is popular in Peru and Japan and is still available on the black market despite ban. Muchame is served with avocado, onions, and crackers. The meat from the flanks is called "chanco marino" (sea pig), and is dark with a strong flavor.
  • Tigers. It is illegal to sell tiger meat in China but some restaurants serve it. restaurateurs will have it on their menus. Meat is served fried while tiger penises end up as soup to boost virility.
If you happen to know someone who is a member of ELEAWTA, tell that person what one irate animal lover told the club's founder: "I am one of a kind, an endangered species...I cordially invite you to eat me."

[Via AskMen.com] Permalink  |   Email this  |   Linking Blogs   |   Digg It!

Bookmark / Find this article on:

1 Comments


Sort by:
   by Advertising -
   by Jx1 - 2006-09-25

this is sick and very sad. I can't believe people do this..
err... i wish there was a way to stop all this. sh**



Contact
The QJ.net Network RSS Feeds
QJ Forums
PC Gaming
Sony PSP
PlayStation 3
Xbox 360
Nintendo DS
Nintendo Wii
Blog of Blogs Feed / PDA
QJ.NET RSS / PDA
Gaming Consoles Feed / PDA
Nintendo DS RSS / PDA
PlayStation 3 RSS / PDA
PSP Updates RSS / PDA
Wii RSS / PDA
Xbox 360 RSS / PDA
PC Gaming Feed / PDA
MMORPG RSS / PDA
Personal Computer Games RSS / PDA
World of Warcraft RSS / PDA
Technology Feed / PDA
Apple RSS / PDA
iPhone - iPod Touch RSS / PDA
Add QJ.NET
Add to My Yahoo!
Google Reader Subscribe with Bloglines
Add to your Kinja digest Subscribe in NewsGator Online
Subscribe with Pluck RSS reader Add 'www.qj.net' to Newsburst from CNET News.com
Subscribe with SearchFox RSS del.icio.us www.qj.net
Add to Technorati Favorite! Add to My AOL
furl! it Stumble for Treehugger!
User Favorites - July
Most Commented
No commented articles
User Favorites - July
Top Jumps
No available articles using criteria

 Username: 
 Password:
Forgot password
New user registration



Poll
Are unidentified flying objects (UFOs) really alien spaceships?
Earth Science
General Science
Health Science
Space
Archives


Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of the TERMS & CONDITIONS and PRIVACY POLICY
Copyright © 2006, Content Holdings, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Version. 1.31