August 6, 2013

China finds another dead pig dump in waterways near Shanghai

Despite government crackdown on dumping pig carcasses, the nightmare of dead pig dumping in waterways near Shanghai has returned to other parts of China.

In the months since authorities fished out more than 10,000 dead pigs from Huangpu River and its tributaries in March, farmers still appear to be disposing of the carcasses the same way. Internet searches for "dead pig" and "river" have resulted in media reports of similar incidents every month since the first stories made international headlines, sparked public outcry and prompted water safety concerns.

"Over 70 dead swine salvaged from Hunan Liuyang river", the headlines say.

The latest story came on Saturday (Aug 3), when photos were published by China International Broadcasting Network showing dozens of rotten pig carcasses floating in waterways in central China's Wuhan province.

Government officials and media blamed pig farmers and sellers for dumping the carcasses in the rivers because it costs much less than burying or incinerating them. But some experts have attributed the dumping practice to rigorous crackdowns on black-market pork dealings earlier this year. Authorities have clamped down on peddlers who buy dead pigs and sell them illicitly.

The government has also sought to dispel public concerns about the pollution of the rivers, often the source of drinking water for cities.

Some local residents, however, have found an unexpected fortune in salvaging dead pigs from rivers. Villagers in Jiaxing who used to earn RMB30 (US$5) a day fishing, now make as much as RMB150 (US$24) a day picking carcasses from the water.