In China, an utterly disturbing and empathy lacking trend is more than likely still going on, as it was reported earlier this decade. Live fish, turtles, and other creatures are most likely still suffering through being made into key-chains, mobile phone charms, and things of that nature.

These animals risk death and endure what amounts to torture, being fully sealed within small, uncomfortable plastic containers. Animal rights groups and publications have spoken out.In the major cities of China, along with other largely useless commodities that citizens are forced to trade in, you know, little key-chains and trinkets and all those things, these live animals are trapped in those things and are being sold. They say you’ll find them being sold outside train and subway stations, for as cheap as $1.50.



Usually the animals suffer through whatever chemicals they use to color the water within their plastic container as well. Remember, look at it from the perspective of the little amphibians: we breathe air, they breathe water, so the people who made these keychains are essentially forcing other sentient life forms to breathe more than likely toxic coloring compounds, in addition to being trapped.



Some sad excuses have been offered by vendors who sell these things, including some explanation that each key-chain “contains enough crystallized oxygen and nutrients to keep the animals alive.” That’s such a terrible excuse with no specifics provided whatsoever.



Within the bags, you’ll find fishes, young Chinese soft shelled turtles (eaten by Chinese people as adults, which doesn’t seem that nice either), or perhaps an amphibian.



A vendor of these things told CNN that after a few days the animals suffocate unless someone cuts them out of the bag. Then what happens? They are probably discarded and left to pass away.