Live Animals Stuffed in Plastic Bags Sold as Souvenirs in China

It all sounds like a really sick joke, but apparently it's true: live animals stuffed inside plastic bags are being sold as souvenirs (decorative key chains, to be more precise) in China.

The people who manufacture and market these gruesome souvenirs say that the turtles, fish, lizards and whatnot trapped inside the plastic bags have just enough oxygen and nutrients to live for several weeks.

However, it more often than not happens that the animals die in a matter of hours, Inhabitat says.

What's even more horrific is that the people who purchase these decorative key chains are encouraged to eat the animals once the latter die.

Animal rights activists have started a petition asking that this practice be put an end to immediately.

“New fashion jewelry in China, animals living under plastic containing a liquid nutrient and oxygen that allows them to live up to 2 months.”

“This is cruel and should be condemned by the international community,” they say.

Those wishing to sign the petition can do so here.