China begins cull of civet cats in bid to halt SARS

RACING against a self-imposed deadline, Chinese authorities drowned or electrocuted the first of thousands of civet cats yesterday in an urgent effort to eliminate a possible source of the SARS virus.

The mass slaughter of animals seized from wildlife markets in Guangdong province was launched despite appeals for caution by the World Health Organisation. The UN agency said killing civets might destroy clues about the source of SARS and even help to spread the disease.

Authorities have ordered the deaths of some 10,000 civet cats a weasel-like animal that is a local delicacy and related wildlife by Saturday.