(image: Hot Pink Dolphins (animal rights activist group))
SEOUL, Jul. 9 (Korea Bizwire) — As festivals that feature animals as part of their attraction have been found to be causing harm or deaths to the creatures, animal rights groups are asking for better measures to ensure the rights of animals are protected.
According to a study commissioned by the Biodiversity Foundation, a team of experts from Seoul National University’s College of Veterinary Medicine surveyed the condition of animals at 86 festivals that were held between 2013 and 2015.
Of the 129 main programs featured in the festivals, 84 percent resulted in animals being killed or being stressed to the verge of death.
One such example involved fish, a species that possesses the sensory nerves to recognize pain. Ushered into small spaces, fish were caught either by hand or with a fishing rod.
Nearly half of the 129 programs (46.5 percent) involved the catching of animals with bare hands.
In 78.3 percent of the cases, the programs involved eating the animals. Only 5.4 percent of such programs did not bring upon harmful consequences to the featured animals.
The image shows Ulsan Whale Festival last year that is under criticism of whale meat being served during the fest. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
Fish were the most commonly used animal species at festivals, accounting for 59.7 percent of all instances, followed by shellfish or mollusks (21.7 percent), mammals (11.6 percent) and insects (3.1 percent).
An official at the Biodiversity Foundation said that the so-called ‘festivals’ merely use the animals to satisfy the desires of man.
“It may be a festival for humans but it’s a carnival of death for the animals,” said the official.
The foundation is advocating for animal festival organizers to avoid the breeding season when dealing with fish, and to refrain from having participants catch animals with their bare hands.
Other animal activists stated that programs needed to be more animal-friendly, while adhering to the relevant laws pertaining to the humane treatment of animals.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
