By Joseph Golder December 3, 2021<\/p>\n
Decaying porcupines and antelopes, among a vast quantity of other bushmeat being smuggled into Germany, were seized by customs officials at Cologne\/Bonn airport.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the past few weeks, Cologne customs \u2026 prevented the smuggling of \u2018bushmeat\u2019 in parcels from Nigeria,\u201d Jens Ahland, a spokesperson for the customs office, said in a Dec. 1 statement. \u201cBushmeat is a specific African term for game meat from animals that are hunted in the jungle or in the savanna.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn addition to four galagos, also known as bushbabies, a porcupine, and an antelope, we also found large quantities of rotten fish, crustaceans, cowhides, and snails. In total, we found almost half a ton of the mostly roasted or smoked animals,\u201d Ahland said.<\/p>\n
The 15 parcel shipments, which weighed between 220 pounds and 600 pounds were on their way to private individuals from Germany, but also France and Belgium, Ahland said.<\/p>\n
The infestation was so bad that \u201cthe airport border control point of the city of Cologne will be destroyed,\u201d Ahland said.<\/p>\n
Bushmeat is described as meat from wild animals hunted predominantly in Africa. It has long been used in local dishes and street foods, and it is also regularly smuggled to other countries to meet ex-pat demand. It can pose grave health risks and is said to contribute to the spread of zoonotic diseases, such as Ebola, via fruit bats.<\/p>\n