The Innocent Wildlife collection highlights animals implicated by scientists as the “intermediate host animal” from which SARS-CoV-2 may have entered humans. Although it is theoretically possible that one of these animals served as the intermediate host, the evidence provided so far to support these claims is not convincing.
WHY ARE RACCOON DOGS PART OF THE INNOCENT WILDLIFE COLLECTION?
In March 2023 a barrage of news reports strongly hinted that the origin of the COVID-19 pandemic had been solved, placing the blame on raccoon dogs being sold in the Huanan Seafood Market in Wuhan, China.
These news reports were deeply misleading and reflected yet another example of a small group of researchers exaggerating their findings and misleading the public with false certainty about the origins of COVID-19.
Luckily, a few weeks later, an outstanding scientist of high character published a preprint paper that vindicated the raccoon dogs. Some have called these events “raccoon dog gate.”
RACCOON DOGS
WHAT IS A RACCOON DOG?
Raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) are native to East Asia, including China. They are part of the Canidae family but are not closely related to raccoons, despite their name. Raccoon dogs are found in various parts of East Asia, including China, Japan, Korea, and parts of Eastern Russia.
WHAT DO RACCOON DOGS LOOK LIKE?
Raccoon dogs have a bushy tail, black facial markings, and pointed muzzle give them a superficial resemblance to raccoons. They typically weigh between 5-10 kilograms (~10-20 lbs) and have a body length of around 65-80 centimeters (~2-2.5 ft). Although their general appearance remains consistent across these regions, there are some variations due to different subspecies and local adaptations.
In China, raccoon dogs have a relatively stocky build, with short legs and a dense coat. Their fur is generally yellowish-brown to reddish-brown and has black markings on the face and limbs. This appearance helps them blend into the forests and wooded areas where they typically reside.
WHY ARE RACCOON DOGS SOLD IN MARKETS IN CHINA?
In China, raccoon dogs are often bred and farmed for their fur and also have been known to be a part of traditional Chinese medicine. The fur industry in China has been known to keep raccoon dogs in conditions that many animal welfare organizations consider to be inhumane including small cages, limited access to fresh food and water, and poor sanitation. Thus, there have been efforts by animal rights organizations to improve the treatment of raccoon dogs in China.
In China, raccoon dogs have a relatively stocky build, with short legs and a dense coat. Their fur is generally yellowish-brown to reddish-brown and has black markings on the face and limbs. This appearance helps them blend into the forests and wooded areas where they typically reside.
