Vendors are selling exotic African "bush meat" at small underground markets in Toronto and Montreal. Meat from bats, rats and other small mammals is the most common, but as much as 30 percent of the meat sold can be primate. Endangered gorilla and pangolin meat has also been found.
The bush meat trade draws an estimated $1 billion annually and is one of the most immediate threat to wildlife populations in Africa today.
Besides the obvious ecological concerns, the bush meat trade carries a threat of infectious disease. Much of the meat is brought into Canada in luggage, but Canada's Border Services Agency has only recorded two cases of seized bush meat since 2009. Please sign the petition to urge Border Services to crack down on bush meat!
To: Canada Border Services Agency
We, the undersigned are concerned with the underground sales of "bush meat" in Canada.
As you may know, vendors are selling exotic African meat at small underground markets in Toronto and Montreal. Meat from bats, rats and other small mammals is the most common, but as much as 30 percent of the meat sold can be primate. Endangered gorilla meat has also been found.
The bush meat trade draws an estimated $1 billion annually.
Besides the obvious ecological concerns, the bush meat trade carries a threat of infectious disease. Much of the meat is brought into Canada in luggage, but Canada's Border Services Agency has only recorded two cases of seized bush meat since 2009. We respectfully urge you to take action to enforce import laws and prevent the sales of bush meat in Canada. Thank you for taking the time to read and consider our petition.
