vietnam police discovered some 2,000 dead cats that were going to be used in traditional medicine, the state press reported this Friday.
The bodies of cats were found on Thursday in a slaughterhouse in the province of Dong Thap, in the Mekong Delta (south), as well as 480 live catsaccording to the official newspaper of the province.
With a total volume of four tons, the corpses were stored in a cold room to later be transformed into traditional medicine products through a long boiling process, according to the newspaper.
Some Vietnamese believe that extracts from cat bones can help cure diseases such as asthma and osteoporosis.
Eating cats and dogs remains legal in Vietnamm, and many restaurants in the country serve the meat, but those commercial establishments must present certificates of origin of the animals.
The Dong Thap slaughterhouse did not submit any documents.
Según la ONG Four Paws International, Up to a million cats fall victim to the illegal trade in Vietnam each year.
The traditional medicine industry is a major driver of the illegal wildlife trade in Asia, and Vietnam is a hub of consumption and transportation.
FR