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Taiwan's 'pigs of the gods'
In towns and villages across Taiwan preparations are being made to slaughter
hundreds of grotesquely overweight pigs that have been cruelly force-fed in a ritual known as 'pigs of the gods'.
Force-feeding
However, despite the anti-cruelty and livestock
legislation, enforcement continues to pose challenges to the under-resourced local inspectorates. This is particularly true
in rural areas where, for example, many hundreds of pigs continue to be fattened and slaughtered in a ritual known as 'pigs
of the gods'. Pigs are force-fed for up to 18 months and their weight increases to such an extent that they are unable to
stand or even move. The fattening and slaughter continues throughout the year but peaks in February when many of the animals
are killed.
Commercial competition
This ritual began as a traditional contest between rival villagers attached
to local temples, each dedicated to a particular god. In the last few decades it has grown into a commercially-driven industry.
Competition has intensified to the point where some farmers now specialise in rearing grotesquely overweight animals purely
for profit. Some pigs now reach weights exceeding 900kg - around eight times the normal slaughter weight.
Cruel
slaughter
In-depth investigations carried out across the island by the campaigning organisation, Environment and Animal
Society of Taiwan, show that about 70 temples are engaged in the practice. Up to 800 pigs are reared in this way annually,
and many are slaughtered without the pre-stunning required by law.
Alternative 'pigs'
The Taiwan authorities
have until now been reluctant to enforce the law against what they see as practices with cultural or religious significance.
In recent years, however, there has been a surge in opposition from local people and international animal welfare groups which
share the view that tradition cannot be an excuse for cruelty.
Protests have recently led the director of the department
of animal husbandry at Taiwan's Council of Agriculture to concede that: "the force-feeding, confinement and method of slaughter
of the pigs certainly are unacceptable." At the same time, many temples have responded positively and moved towards humane
alternative celebrations, now using 'pigs' made of rice cakes or dough. |
