Because of rumors of miracle drugs, sparrows are being exterminated.

(Baonghean.vn) - With the information that the meat and blood of field sparrows are a 'miracle drug' that can cure many diseases, currently in Nghe An there is a fever of hunting sparrows.

Never before has there been such a "movement" of hunting sparrows in the countryside of Yen Thanh district. Many forms of hunting these small animals now include netting, shooting with guns, plastic traps...

Some gunmen even carried alcohol and razor blades so that when sparrows were shot down, someone would quickly pick them up and put the bird's blood in the alcohol, and use a razor blade to cut the throats of wounded birds. These gunmen were shooting and drinking sparrow blood wine, their faces were red "like fighting cocks".

Many people drink sparrow blood because of rumors of a miracle drug. Photo: Tien Dung

Nguyen B, a gunman, said: "We heard that sparrow meat has the effect of strengthening yang and yin, so we decided to go hunting together...".

According to B, shooting sparrows during the day will yield less, at most only 30 - 40 birds/day. The way to capture a whole nest is to go scouting in the afternoon, see a nest of sparrows nesting in a tree chirping, at night bring a flashlight and a gun to pick them up; if you find a nest like that, your hands will be tired from shooting, about 200 - 500 birds. Currently, there are many people looking to buy so supply cannot meet demand. With the price of 10,000 - 15,000 VND/bird, some people can earn millions of dong every night.

Not only exterminating with guns, there is also an "army" that buys tools to trap sparrows. Mr. Chau in Quynh Xuan commune, Quynh Luu district - a sparrow trapper said, in his hometown this season, the whole village buys tools to trap sparrows. They go everywhere, even to Ha Tinh, Quang Binh and Thanh Hoa...

Sparrow traps are made simply, just need 2 nets framed, tied together by parachute cords. Photo: Tien Dung

The tools used to trap sparrows are also simple, just need 2 nets framed, tied together by parachute cords. When setting the trap, the 2 nets will become 2 wings, the decoy bird is placed in the middle.

This trap also has the help of digital technology. It is a machine that plays the sound of sparrows. This machine continuously works to lure sparrows to the area of ​​the bait bird. When there is a bird, the person setting the trap will pull the "trigger" string, immediately the two wings of the trap collapse, no bird can escape because the mesh is very small.

"A single net captures about 5-10 sparrows, sometimes a whole flock of about 60-70 sparrows. Every day, after deducting food and gas expenses, I have millions in my pocket. Now, I don't need to import the sparrows like before, but people come to my house to buy them; even a few sparrows are sold out because of the rumor that sparrows are a miracle drug," said Mr. Chau.

Sparrows are collected to supply to customers. Photo: Tien Dung

Nowadays, many restaurants have grasped the need for drinking “miracle drugs” and have quickly purchased sparrows in large quantities to serve “customers”. Ms. P, a large restaurant in Dien Chau said: Every day, many customers come to order sparrow dishes. Not only gentlemen, but also ladies come to eat in large numbers.

"Previously, my restaurant consumed more than 100 kg of sparrows every day; now many pubs also buy them, so sparrows are rarer, only 20 - 30 kg per day" - Ms. P shared.

Rumors that sparrow meat is a miracle drug that can cure all diseases are creating a fever for hunting sparrows in Nghe An; many people have left their fields to buy tools to catch the "miracle drug" to sell...

According to Mr. Nguyen Bang - an Oriental medicine practitioner in Yen Thanh district: After more than 60 years of practicing medicine, I have never seen anyone use sparrows to treat diseases, and the information about sparrows as a miracle drug is incorrect, only that they are increasingly depleted.

Sparrows are the most powerful insectivorous birds. With the widespread extermination of sparrows like this, locusts will develop, which is harmful to agricultural and forestry crops.

Tien Dung