SARS Spurs Snake Soup Shortage

China
is Hong Kong’s top source of snakes, shipping about 67,000 every year,
and traders are having to defrost last year’s leftovers and import snakes
from Southeast Asia at prices up to 20 percent higher
from
the Boston Globe

HONG KONG — Nothing holds off Hong Kong’s
winter chill like a hearty bowl of snake soup — but there’s a problem.
Many restaurants are missing the main ingredient.

Hong Kong’s snake industry is suffering a severe supply crunch after mainland
authorities banned exports during the SARS outbreak, when research suggested
the respiratory illness was spread by wildlife in southern China.

Aficionados view the meat as a winter-warming food, even an aphrodisiac. "It
tastes great. It’s good for your body," said Li.