Thousands of Dead Pigs Found Floating in Shanghai River

From NetEase:

Over 3000 Dead Pigs Fished Out of Huangpu River, Officials Say Water Quality Normal

March 9th, a large number of dead pigs appeared floating on the Huangpu River surface in the Songjiang district of Shanghai. As of March 11th, already over 3000 pigs have been fished out. These dead hogs mainly come from areas upstream of Shanghai. Shanghai’s Water Department says the tap water quality “data is normal” in Songjiang district and in accordance with relevant standards.

[Above] March 10th, Shanghai Huangpu River, numerous pigs floating on the surface of the river.

March 10th, Shanghai Huangpu River, sanitation workers fishing out the dead pigs.

March 10th, Shanghai Huangpu River, sanitation workers dragging away the dead pigs on the shore.

On Sina Weibo:

@头条新闻: Online chatter today: Over a thousand pigs unsatisfied with pollution collective jump into the Huangpu River. March 9th, a large number of dead pigs appeared floating on the Huangpu River surface in the Songjiang district of Shanghai. At present, already over 1200 swine have been fished out, including amongst them suckling pigs as well as adult pigs weighing over hundreds of kilograms. It has been tentatively determined that these dead pigs come upstream from the Zhejiang province area. Netizens joked about this, claiming these pigs had “angrily jumped into the river” because they were unhappy with pollution.

From Sohu:

Shanghai Huangpu River Floating Pigs Test Results: Porcine Circovirus Detected

China Exclusive Report: Results of Tests on the Pigs Floating on the Huangpu River: Porcine circovirus (PCV) detected, not yet major outbreak. The Shanghai Municipal Agriculture Commission announced on the 11th that the dead pigs that were floating in the Huangpu River have undergone sampling and testing, with one sample testing positive for porcine circovirus, and the other specimens all testing negative. Porcine circovirus disease is caused by porcine circovirus type 2, a disease that has broken out relatively frequently in recent years, and not considered a zoonosis disease [one that transmits between humans and animals].

Comments from NetEase:

空亦空 [网易广西南宁市网友]：

Celebrate, at least they weren’t manufactured into ham and sausages.

网易云南省昆明市网友：

This many dead pigs, why did they rot to this point before they were discovered…? Poor sanitation workers.

网易浙江省台州市网友：

Actually, it’s very simple. As long as the environmental protection bureau chief dares to drink [the water], then we’ll dare to drink [the water], as well as believe you guys.

zhoufenglk [网易上海市网友]：

This place does indeed have a lot of dead pigs. I often come to this place to hunt pheasants and see dead pigs all over the the riverside.

zdwyunjie [网易江苏省常州市网友]：

If it weren’t for the media exposing this, I bet they’d all still be soaking in the water and the masses would would be none the wiser about the water they’re drinking!! Government departments are always about belated action!! I’m also confused as to why housing prices are not only not falling but actually rising!

yhdtbl [网易北京市朝阳区网友]：

Shanghai people truly are blessed, even the water they drink is full of nourishment.
It must be great to be Shanghainese.

网易浙江省嘉兴市手机网友：

I’ll pay 10,000 RMB for the water quality technician to drink the Huangpu River water.

网易重庆市网友：

If he dares to drink it, then I’ll dare to go streaking naked, and guarantee full nudity [of breasts, crotch, and buttocks].

弄一弄 [网易山东省济南市网友]：

If these dead pigs aren’t sent to some unscrupulous processing factory, we can “burn incense” [and thank the heavens for our fortune]~~ ||| Sigh~ these days our hopes/expectations are all so low…

ttii77 [网易河北省石家庄市网友]：

“Whether you believe or not, either way I believe it.”

网易上海市浦东新区手机网友：

How come we don’t see an investigation being launched? Don’t tell me throwing away diseased dead pigs like this isn’t illegal enough?

网易辽宁省辽阳市网友：

Why were they thrown into the river? Was burying them not okay? Some people’s characters truly are lousy!

走错了地方 [网易上海市杨浦区网友]：

If that 3000 government officials died in that river, it’d be an occasion more festive than Spring Festival.

网易广东省广州市手机网友：

I remember reading a book about a young American guy who had pissed in the lake next to his campsite, and while listening to the radio on his return journey, heard that the entire town had stopped the water, because this guy had pissed in the reservoir.

网易河南省开封市网友 [各抒己见之我见]：

If the water quality is normal like this, we can only imagine what kind of water our citizens are drinking normally.

网易广东省深圳市南山区网友：

1200 obviously not normal farm pigs, probably from some pig farm. This should be investigated, and fined to hell. Dead pigs should be buried deep, so who TMD just dumped them into the river?

Comments from Sohu:

凉拌菜的微博:

Why did this batch of pigs die? Because they went to the river to drink water, also thinking at first that the water quality is normal, but then they all died.

给力部:

Thousands of dead pigs soaked and immersed in the Huangpu River for tens of hours and the water quality is still within standards? It can only show that our water quality standards are set too low.

米老鼠给力:

Recommend tossing in ginger, Chinese cinnamon, Sichuan peppers, fennel, yellow wine, sweet and sour, soy sauce, etc. and then stir it together [to make a broth/soup]…

搜狐新闻客户端网:

Investigate the source, fine the source, kill the source. When it comes to all of the problems in China, the one thing that is feared is that they’re handled at the dining table [through corruption with government officials].

天行健:

2012 the price of pork continues to drop, and no one in the government shows any interest. However, when pork prices go up, the country begins both regulating prices and importing pork, deathly afraid of pig farmers making any money. And entering 2013, pork prices further drop to 6 yuan while various kind of raw materials continues to increase in price. One pig sold is still a loss of about 300 [RMB]. Who would have the heart to continue on this way? This disease can be protected against and controlled, but it requires investment/money, and under the circumstances of already operating at a loss, who would be willing to make such a large investment/expense? Feeding them to maturity is losing money, so might as well just let die and save the trouble. Plus, the government’s pig subsidy just so happens to be reversed. When prices are low and subsidies are needed, they don’t subsidize. When the prices are high and subsidies aren’t needed, they subsidize recklessly. Right now pig farmers are losing money and the government doesn’t do anything. By the time mother pigs are massively slaughtered and pork prices increase a large margin, it’ll be too late. Yet another vicious cycle!

搜狐新闻客户端网友:

That many pigs dumped in the river and they aren’t able to find out who did it, sigh! Only by determining the source can we determine just what happened with these pigs and whether or not there will be pollution or contamination to the river water…

搜狐新闻客户端网友:

Big city Shanghai, simply different, so good it’s become disgusting. Beijing too is not bad, with their sand storms and smog. What’s the use in making that much money? Can health be purchased?

搜狐新闻客户端网友:

I still don’t understand, why not buried? Rotting in the water like this, just thinking about it is disgusting. [Does the person responsible] have something against the people of Shanghai?