China urged to call time on fur farms after WHO’s report into Covid’s origins

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. These are details from a fur farm investigation in China conducted by the Humane Society International, which is calling on the British government to ban import of furs following the publication of a World Health Organisation report, suggesting wildlife farming could be a potential breeding ground for Covid-19. “China’s wildlife operation has four other components that are still operating: farming for fur, for traditional Chinese medicine, for display and pets, and for laboratory use,” Prof Li told the Independent. “I think that’s where the next zoonotic disease spillover could happen.” Prof Li pointed out that while there is growing willingness among some lawmakers in China to further restrict the remaining wildlife farming operations, there is still strong resistance from the wildlife business in China. “The international community should encourage China to phase out all the remaining commercial wildlife farming operations,” he said.