A ‘cafeteria’ for pathogens in Indonesia

Bay Ismoyo/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Environmentalists have repeatedly urged Indonesian officials to close the Tomohon Extreme Market, where butchers cut up bats, rats, snakes and lizards taken from the wilds of Sulawesi Island. Now, the coronavirus pandemic is putting fresh pressure on the officials to take action.

“The market is like a cafeteria for animal pathogens,” said Wiku Adisasmito, the lead expert on Indonesia’s coronavirus task force. “Consuming wild animals is the same as playing with fire.”

We took a close look at the market, one of the largest in the region.