Korea's Case with Avian Influenza: An Affront to Animal Rights and Dignity of Life

Cries of domestic poultries resound through the desolate slaughter scene of South Korea. The cries bring more than anxiety and fear to farm owners; they bring the weak nature of the Korean government's Animal Welfare Acts into the public's view. Over the course of a month, approximately 22 million chickens have been slaughtered indiscriminately and mercilessly in response to AI virus; the Korean government has neither addressed nor monitored the issue with responsibility. AI virus is a bird-borne disease, and is commonly associated with bird migration networks in Asia.

We hereby encourage that the government of South Korea consider the following shortcomings that surfaced during the response to AI virus.

(1) Killing domestic poultries through mass burial

Currently, measures to remove AI virus have been carried out through the mass burials of domestic poultries, including chicken, ducks, geese, and various other fowls. However, this is unlawful, as it goes against Article 11 of Korea’s Animal Protection Law, Article 23 of Domestic Animal Infectious Disease Control Law, and the Standard Operating procedure for HPAI response. Laws and procedures listed above clearly state the slaughter protocol that must be followed: electrocution or toxic gas, such as CO2 or N2, should be used to minimize the pain felt.
(2) Indiscriminately executing domestic poultry within a scope of 500m to 3km as a preemptive measure

Korea has followed a shocking and unprecedented way of dealing with AI virus by slaughtering all domestic poultries within a scope of 300m to 5km from reported sites, regardless of whether the poultry has the virus or not. Not only is this method ineffective, but also irresponsible. In the United States, measures taken in consideration of AI virus have included monitoring farms within a distance of 3.2 km from reported sites of AI virus.

Following these considerations, we intend to provide a suggestion of what can be done in the future to better shield Korea from an AI virus epidemic.

(1) Korea should discard battery cages that confine domestic poultries to an area of 0.04m²-0.05m², which is smaller than that of a 0.062m² wide A4 paper. Confinement without exposure to sunlight results in the deterioration of the immune system, thereby taking away the ability for fowl to fight off AI virus. The European Union (EU) has outlawed the use of battery cages, and Korea, too, has emphasized the importance, as outlined in the 'Five-year Plan for Animal Welfare.' However, it has been reported that less than 1% of all farms abide by this.

The time has arrived for Korea to reflect upon its method of confronting AI virus. Instead of attributing problem to the migration of seasonal birds, Korea should be raising the question of "what moral parameters should our country be setting for combatting AI virus?"