New Rescue – Twenty-Six Ricefield Rats

This week, we rescued 26 ricefield rats from filthy cesspits where they were farmed for human consumption. Neglected and left with severe wounds, these rats are a stark reminder of the immense cruelty inflicted on wildlife exploited for meat.

Beyond their suffering, farming rats and other ‘bushmeat’ poses serious public health risks, as these animals are known carriers of zoonotic diseases like leptospirosis and hantavirus.

This rescue underscores the cruelty of illegal wildlife farming and its wider threats to public health. Unregulated markets, restaurants, and breeding facilities perpetuate animal suffering while increasing the risk of zoonotic disease outbreaks, putting both animals and humans at risk.