[yzh]

It is not SARS, but it is highly possible that it was caused by people who kill and sell wild animals in the live poultry market. Where these animals like gem-faced civet got virus from bats. It is a long-held tradition for certain regions in China to eat wild animals. We even have a Chengyu called: 山珍海味, meaning precious and tasty animals from mountains and seas. Most wild animals are not evolved to be eaten by human, so not like beef or pork, they do not taste well. People only eat it because they can. Because they want to show others that they can. This is sad.

[wyxuan]

Good point but evidence suggests that this case from a fish market

[yzh]

You're right that the name is 华南海鲜市场 (Huanan seafood market). But the name is actually not accurate. The market sells a wide range of wild animals spanning from rabbits to Chinese bamboo rat, which is suspect to be the source of the virus.

[knolax]

Literally every culture hunts wild game. This is such a weird thing to consider unique to China.

[corporate_shi11]

What they're describing is different from the hunting culture that persists in developed societies. It's more like hunter gatherer hunting for bushmeat embedded in an agricultural and livestock raising society where such hunting is unnecessary so the hunt is more about status, which is a bit unique.

[knolax]

> It's more like hunter gatherer hunting for bushmeat embedded in an agricultural and livestock raising society where such hunting is unnecessary so the hunt is more about status

It seems like you just described "the hunting culture that persists in developed societies".

[Fomite]

Just like with Ebola, we really like using "bushmeat" as othering language to describe hunting.

[trianglem]

Never thought of it like that but “bushmeat” is just hunted game. Right?

[Fomite]

Yep.

[t0ughcritic]

Do indian people?

[topmonk]

There is also a newly opened medical research facility that investigates pathogens in Wuhan. It's possible the virus escaped.