Morning Post 96101 Hotline News (Reporter Xianfeng Li) - Small plastic bags containing small goldfish filled with nutrient solution, carbonation tower paint anti-corrosion at fertilizer plants, young man breaks world record by having 83 kilograms of bees covering his entire body (pictured), and after being sealed and processed, they become live animal keychains or mobile phone accessories. Yesterday, the reporter found some itinerant vendors selling such products in urban areas of Beijing, particularly popular around primary schools. Some citizens said that this act is cruel.
"Live fish, live turtles, only 5 yuan each, can be hung on keys or mobile phones, chimney painted with navigation marks." Yesterday afternoon, on the west side of the pedestrian walkway at Muxiyuan Bridge in Fengtai District, several street vendors were selling a type of live animal jewelry, attracting many pedestrians to stop and watch. The vendors sold three types of these jewelry: small goldfish, small turtles, and small golden toads. A red thin rope was tied to the plastic bag, which contained some air inside. Young women hanging their breasts while breastfeeding on public buses shock male passengers, netizens suggest covering up; a 9-year-old boy with superhuman strength can lift a 120 kg barbell (with pictures). Tiny fish and insects float in a limited water space, fan corrosion prevention, building cleaning [Luo Jun chimney corrosion protection], college student falls to death from toilet, school sentenced to pay over 100,000 yuan in compensation (with picture).
"There's nutrient solution inside, and also oxygen," the vendor confidently claimed that these conditions ensure the survival of the fish and insects in the bag for 3 months. "After 3 months, they will have grown up and can be placed in an aquarium."
"I can sell 200 in one day during weekends," a female vendor said. The cost of one live animal accessory is less than 1 yuan. "Children really like this stuff, best sold at the gates of primary schools."
Some onlookers thought this was cruel. "Although the fish are small, they are still lives," said one person. "They shouldn't be turned into ornaments." The reporter then went to the Shilihe flower, bird, fish, and insect market. A fish and insect merchant told the reporter that the fish and insect market generally does not sell such 'sealed fish (turtles)', only itinerant vendors sell them. "The bag is so small, with such little oxygen, the fish can live at most 3 days, and will definitely be thrown away afterward," he said.
"This is an act of animal abuse," said Ms. Yuanyuan Zhang, head of Action Asia Animal Protection Team China Region. She suggested strengthening education in schools and promoting national legislation to reduce such acts of animal cruelty.