To: the President of the People’s Republic of China

The outbreak of the coronavirus in Wuhan, China, has put a lot attention on the wildlife markets. Such markets, which offers a wide range of live endangered animals and traditional wildlife medicine, is suspected as the pandemic’s point of origin.

These markets not only spread diseases such as covid-19. By selling poached, endangered animal parts like rhino horns and pangolins they are pushing species toward extinction. The horn of the rhino and the scales from the pangolin are used for the exact same purpose – to create a traditional medicine believed to cure a wide range of conditions. However, they consist of the exact same substance as human finger nails – keratin. There is no scientfically proven effect whatsoever. It’s a worthless medicine. An imaginary drug that kills up to 1,000 rhinos and 2,7 million pangolins per year. 

Despite the ongoing corona crisis and your temporary ban of the wildlife trade, many wildlife markets are now reopening. A complete disaster for the entire planet.

We call on you to shut down the illegal wildlife trade and consumption of wildlife traditional medicine permanently and forever. With no exception. 
Without a complete ban, the trade and the use could continue to drive demand for such products and provide incentives for poaching and other illegal activities. The protection of human health and the fight against mass extinction will require a firm response.

Yours sincerely, Here Forever Foundation
www.hereforeverfoundation.com