What Are Raccoon Canine? – The New York Instances
On Thursday, scientists unveiled new information on the potential origins of the Covid-19 pandemic — and put an odd, squat creature squarely within the highlight.
Meet the raccoon canine; it earns its title from its black facial markings, which give the animal a masked look and a more-than-passing resemblance to these notorious raiders of city trash cans.
The animals have been not less than often offered on the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market, the place many virologists suspect that the Covid-19 pandemic might have began.
Scientists had beforehand introduced that swabs from the market had examined constructive for the coronavirus that causes Covid-19. The brand new information revealed that a few of these identical swabs additionally contained substantial genetic materials from raccoon canine.
The findings didn’t show that raccoon canine have been contaminated with the virus or that they’d handed it on to people. However they’re in keeping with the chance that wild animals on the market might have set off the Covid-19 pandemic.
Extra on the Coronavirus Pandemic
- Covid’s Origins: A lab leak was as soon as dismissed by many as a conspiracy concept for the origin of Covid-19. However the concept is now gaining traction, whilst proof builds that the virus emerged from a Wuhan market.
- Maternal Mortality: Authorities information exhibits that dying of pregnant ladies in 2021 elevated by 40% in contrast with 2020 and by 60% in contrast with 2019. Covid was a contributing issue within the rise, a separate report suggests.
- Paxlovid: A panel of skilled advisers to the F.D.A. endorsed Paxlovid as a therapy for adults with Covid who’re at excessive threat for extreme sickness. The transfer is more likely to result in full approval of the drug, which has been out there beneath emergency use authorization.
Right here’s what to know in regards to the animal within the information.
What are raccoon canine?
Regardless of their title, raccoon canine usually are not shut family members of raccoons. They’re members of the canid household, a gaggle that additionally contains home canine, and are most carefully associated to foxes. In contrast to different canids, they might hibernate in winter.
Raccoon canine are omnivores, eating on meals sources like rodents and berries. Though they seem svelte in the summertime, they pack on the kilos for winter, when their fur additionally turns into thicker. They’re monogamous, typically dwelling in pairs.
The place do they dwell?
Raccoon canine are native to East Asia, together with elements of China, Korea and Japan, the place they’re often known as tanuki.
They’ve additionally develop into widespread in elements of Europe, the place they’re thought of an invasive species. They’re generally hunted as pests.
Why are they farmed and offered?
Raccoon canine have lengthy been farmed for his or her fur. China is a number one producer of raccoon canine pelts; in 2014, the nation produced greater than 14 million pelts, 100 occasions as many as Europe, based on one report.
They’re additionally offered for his or her meat in dwell animal markets. They have been offered on the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market not less than as late as November 2019, researchers have reported.
Are they the supply of the virus that causes Covid-19?
Not essentially. Laboratory experiments have proven that raccoon canine are prone to, and able to transmitting, the novel coronavirus. However that doesn’t imply that they’re the pure reservoir for the virus. Even when raccoon canine on the market have been contaminated, they could have been an intermediate host, selecting up the virus from bats or one other species.
Raccoon canine and bats have been each widespread on and round among the farms that provided the market, scientists have famous.
An identical situation might have unfolded twenty years in the past, after the emergence of SARS, which can also be brought on by a coronavirus. In 2003, scientists discovered proof of contaminated palm civets and raccoon canine at a dwell animal market in Shenzen, China. However subsequent analysis finally pointed to bats because the pure reservoir for the virus that causes SARS; raccoon canine gave the impression to be intermediate hosts.
Can I pet a raccoon canine if I see one?
It’s most likely not a good suggestion, as tempting because it could be. Covid-19 apart, the animals are recognized to be vectors for different ailments, together with rabies. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals recommends in opposition to holding raccoon canine as pets.
