QuickCheck: Were drinks containing animal foetuses up for sale in Sabah?

IN the pursuit of better health, many folk remedies and preparations exist - and some of them are famed for using ingredients that many would consider "exotic" such as the foetuses of endangered species.

It was claimed recently that drinks that used the foetuses of animals like monkeys, bats, or mouse-deer or other body parts of similar animals were available for sale in Sabah.

Is this true?

VERDICT:

TRUE

Drinks with animal foetuses and other body parts in them were on sale at the Dusun Tatata traditional house at the Kadazandusun Cultural Association (KDCA), says Sabah Wildlife Department director Augustine Tuuga.

He added that the sale of such items has since been stopped because many of the animals inside were totally or semi-protected species.

This includes pangolin, mouse deers, monkeys and snakes.

“We do not issue permits or allow the sale of anything that is listed as protected, even if it is for traditional use,” he said when contacted.

It is learnt that the vendor has exchanged it with a herb-infused liquid.

The drink was prepared and drunk for generations within the Dusun Tatana community in the Kuala Penyu district, and is made with preserved foetuses or parts of bodies from monkeys, bats, pangolins, mouse deer, birds, buffalo, snakes, squirrels and crocodiles

It is said that this drink has medicinal properties and can be used for various types of illnesses, and is only to be drunk in a tiny amount once or twice a year.

Those who wish to enjoy local food such as losun (wild onions and other vegetables stir-fried with anchovies, white pepper and salted fish), hinava (lime or lemon fermented fish mixed with ginger, onions and/or bitter gourd), bambangan (preserved wild mangoes) can visit the KDCA until May 31.