Some believe that cat bones can help treat asthma and osteoporosis.
File photo: Four Pose International
According to state media, Vietnamese police have found about 2,000 dead cats for use in traditional medicine.
The feline carcass was found Thursday at a slaughterhouse in the Mekong Delta’s Dong Thap province, along with 480 live animals, according to a local newspaper.
The cat was kept refrigerated and was thought to be destined for northern Vietnam.
Some people in Vietnam believe that extracts from cat bones can help treat ailments such as asthma and osteoporosis.
Up to 1 million cats are estimated to fall victim to the illegal wildlife trade in Vietnam each year, according to animal rights group Four Poses International.
Consumption of dogs and cats is legal in this country. Many restaurants serve meat, but require a certificate showing the animal’s origin.
The Dong Thap slaughterhouse was unable to approve the killings and provide documentation showing detailed traceability.
So far, no one has been arrested in this case.
The traditional pharmaceutical industry is a major contributor to the illegal wildlife trade in Asia, and Vietnam is also a consumption and transportation hub.
