The coronavirus|The infection in Asia

Bat in Australia. Rob Griffith / Ap 

Bat eating back despite the dip during the pandemic  

Bats continue to be sold in food markets in Indonesia, Australian ABC News writes in a long report. This despite the fact that many scientists believe that the virus that triggered the corona pandemic spread from animals. 

The TV channel has visited the village of Minahasa on the island of Sulawesi, where the dead bats are lined up. 

- The bats come from the caves in the jungle. We burn them, then we cut them up, then we boil them, says seller Rivana Meriske.  

Twenty minutes to the north is the larger town of Tomohon. Karel Lala, who works for the local government, says bat sales took a hit during the pandemic. But now trade and prices have returned to normal. 

Rats and pythons also continue to be sold, but dog and cat meat have recently been banned.  

- In the future, we will look more closely at other animals as well, says Tomohon's deputy mayor Edwin Roring.  

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Bat in the USA. Tony Overman / AP 

Expert worried: "It will trigger the next pandemic" 

It is worrying that bats continue to be sold in food markets in Indonesia. The entire process from capture to cooking entails risks. That's what Agus Setiyono, who researches infections and zoonoses in the capital Jakarta, says.  

The animals carry many dangerous pathogens and therefore require very careful handling. But the people who deal with the bats often do not have that knowledge, he says. 

- Animal markets have a very large spread potential. I wouldn't say it's a ticking time bomb, but the next pandemic will be triggered by more human-wildlife contact.