Story By: Buli Liang, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Asia Wire Report
Video Credit: PETA Asia/AsiaWire
This footage shows Siamese fighting fish – known for attacking each other when in the same tank – are filmed in Thai fish farms living in filthy water while dozens are seen rotting on the surface.
According to local media, Thailand is one of the world’s largest exporters of Siamese fighting fish, also known as betta, and the country supplies the vibrant fish to pet shops in countries such as Australia, Canada, China, Dubai, France, Germany, India, Japan, Peru, Russia, South Korea, Turkey, the US, and others.
Reports said that animal rights group PETA has exposed 10 Thai facilities that supply Siamese fighting fish to worldwide pet shops.
Video footage shows the fish living in cramped bottles filled with dirty water and many, which had likely suffocated to death, are seen decomposing on the ground.
Thousands of bottles of isolated fish covering the warehouse floor are seen tightly packed together and reports said the Siamese fighting fish were packed without food and left to starve for many days during transit.
One worker said that they add tranquilisers to the water to stop the fish from eating their own tails during long trips around the world, according to reports.
Animal activists also said that dead fish were found at every location they visited and were left to rot among living bettas.
Siamese fighting fish without tails were considered unprofitable and were allegedly dumped in nearby canals.
Jason Baker, PETA’s Senior Vice President of International Campaigns, said: “We are calling on caring people to stop fuelling this horrific trade by never buying bettas or any other fish.
“Betta fish suffer from the minute they’re born on massive breeding farms to the minute they die, all for the Hong Kong pet industry.”
Reports said that PETA Asia has petitioned the airline EVA Air to stop transporting Siamese fighting fish around the world.
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