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Asia's Governments Must Follow China's Example in the Fight Against Coronavirus — Ban All Wildlife Markets! Sign Now Dear friends, After the announcement that the deadly Coronavirus most likely made its leap from animals to humans at an illegal wildlife market in Wuhan, China, the country has declared a total ban on the trafficking and consumption of wild animals, effective immediately! It's tragic that it took a human pandemic to make it happen, but the ban on wildlife markets is cause for celebration. However, the coronavirus did not stay within China's borders, and neither should the ban on the horrific wildlife trade. Please sign the petition today and demand that all the governments of Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos follow China's example — ban the sale of wild animals today! Where these countries meet, along with China, is what some refer to as the "Golden Triangle" of the wildlife trade, where markets, restaurants, casinos, hotels, and countless other establishments peddle illegal wildlife products with virtually zero risk of punishment. Wildlife markets are notoriously unhygienic, cramped, and often unregulated or even illegal, making them the perfect breeding ground for evolving viruses, not to mention torture camps for the animals that are killed there, or sold still alive. These markets also pose a threat to threatened and endangered species. Take, for example, the pangolin — this scaled mammal is trafficked at the highest rate of any animal and sold as a delicacy in restaurants across Asia. The poaching rate has put the population at risk of disappearing forever. But a new, worrying angle to the whole sad affair is that scientists believe pangolin consumption is likely the source of the coronavirus ravaging the human population. China's ban on wildlife markets will be essential in the fight against the spreading virus and the rampant species extinction to which they contribute. But pandemics like the coronavirus won't be avoided without implementation of similar policies in neighboring countries. The CDC says that "three out of every four new or emerging infectious diseases in people come from animals." With these numbers in mind, how can Asia's governments allow wildlife markets to operate? Add your voice and call for a complete and immediate ban on all wildlife markets in the "Golden Triangle," including Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos! Thank you,   Kelsey B. The Care2 Petitions Team P.S. It shouldn't have taken a human pandemic to finally ban horrific wildlife markets. But now that China has taken this step, we need to urge other countries to follow suit!