China paid citizens to breed giant rats linked to coronavirus outbreak

A chef holds a rat by the tail at a restaurant that specializes in rat dishes in central Guangzhou. Photo: LightRocket via Getty Images.

The Chinese government may ban the rearing of huge rats it previously paid people to farm to lift themselves out of poverty. In February authorities in the country signalled that the consumption and farming of wild animals would be banned temporarily.

The proposal followed the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, which is believed to have originated in a wet market in the city of Wuhan. Although most researchers familiar with the virus and trade have suggested pangolins and bats are the source of the COVID-19 strain, at least one scientist has suggested bamboo rats are to blame.