Bat meat is still popular in some parts of Indonesia, despite research suggesting the coronavirus spreading from China might have originated from bats

Multiple Fake news claims-: News going viral, as Bat meat still a popular diet of food in Indonesia, despite research suggesting the coronavirus spreading from China might have originated from bats

Bat curry is still a favorite dish among locals in Indonesia despite the #coronavirus outbreak. Coronavirus has not yet been reported in Indonesia

“It tastes good,” says a customer eating bat curry. The animals are still a popular delicacy in parts of Indonesia, even though experts suspect bats are a coronavirus host

 

Facts Check Verdict: True

News Verification:  In December 2019, a novel coronavirus strain (2019-nCoV) emerged in the city of Wuhan, China.. It was totally blamed on humans on how and why they consume any animal meat. Wuhan, China is known widely for the sale of various animals in the Market, was the initial place where the rumored coronavirus started from.

Bats are a food source for humans in some areas. Bats are consumed in various amounts in some regions within some African, Asian, and Pacific Rim countries and cultures, including Vietnam, Seychelles, Indonesia, Palau, Thailand, China, and Guam. In Guam, Mariana fruit bats (Pteropus mariannus) are considered a delicacy.

Bat eating has been a traditional habit in Indonesia and many people after the warning by the officials still consume the bat. It has been warned that the coronavirus may have originated from Bats still it has been the main source of food in many parts of the world.

As per Reuters, the coronavirus has not affected sales,” said bat seller Stenly Timbuleng at his stall in Tomohon, a city in North Sulawesi, south of the provincial capital of Manado.  Timbuleng sells 50-60 bats and during festive periods, he can sell up to 600. Other sales that happen in this market are Bats, snakes, dogs, monkeys and other delicacies that are still being sold every day at the Tomohon Extreme Market in North Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Bat meat preparation at Tomohon Traditional market 

The Tomohon Traditional market in North Sulawesi, Indonesia, is known for selling unusual meat, historically including whole monkeys (usually black macaques), marsupial cuscus, bats and giant pythons alongside more typical dogs, cats, pigs, and forest rats, all laid out on tables for buyers to examine. Although the sale of monkeys and cuscus is now illegal, enforcement is patchy and sadly these animals are occasionally still available for sale. It is really scary to walk through these markets.

Minahasan dish. Manado, North Sulawesi, Indonesia. Bats are a food source for humans in some areas. Bats are consumed in various amounts in ... In 1997, it was estimated that the Aboriginal people of the Top End consumed 180,000 ... Bat meat is considered a delicacy in the Cook Islands, Niue, Guam, the Mariana. The bat meat has been eaten over the years and the present coronavirus has no impact on the sales in these countries.

See photos of exotic markets in Indonesia:

About The Author

Chetan Sharma is an Indian fact-checker and news writer, writing news for Ayupp since 2014.

You Might Be Interested In

Latest On Ayupp.com