Porcupines, tortoises, and snakes are just few of the endangered animals being traded in southern China as edible meat in local diners where animal rights activism seems to have no power over.

The southern Chinese appetites have long been reputed to be exotic with some natives boldly stating that they would 'eat anything with four legs except a table.' Sold for about 500 yuan, or 80 US dollars, a pangolin vendor in Conghua easily sells exotic meat to locals in wholesale despite the law against illegal poaching.

Like Us on Facebook

A few years back, reports about the Conghua market being the center for animal trafficking was exposed by Chinese media with several follow up accounts of neighboring localities with similar 'open secrets' including the annual Yulin Dog Eating Festival.

In April, China has raised the maximum punishment for sellers and eaters of endangered animals to 10 years jail time, but law enforcement is still lenient in Guangdong province.

Reports indicate that not all the products sold in the market are illegal, though flaunted in cages were porcupines beside rare tortoises in buckets while a huge sign exclaims 'giant salamanders' are for sale.

All these are classed as critically endangered on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature's Red List of threatened species.

However, in an interview, an anonymous seller said that making a living from selling these creatures is more difficult nowadays since the local government is stricter now.

The national government of China has first passed laws forbidding trade of such creatures in 1989 though enforcement became difficult because of the sudden increase in the demand of such products in the market.

Hong Kong-based charity Animals Asia CEO Jill Robertson said that the illegal wildlife trade has become "a multi-million dollar business in China," though enhanced penalties are seen as a move which needs to be enhanced by strengthening enforcement and boosting public education and awareness.

Tagsopen trade, endangered species, exotic cuisine, snake meat, porcupine meat, tortoise meat, banned