The Tomohon Market in North Sulawesi is said to be in similar condition to the Huanan Market in Wuhan, China, which slaughters wild animals, including bats, cats, dogs, monitor lizards, snakes and crocodiles.
The animals were locked in narrow cages, taken out of their cages and beaten to death in a state of inflammation and pain. When the animals are dead, the carcasses are pulled here and there by traders, supposedly to attract the attention of tourists, including foreign tourists.
However, the animal lover community strongly condemns the torture that was once used as a tourist attraction. That's how it is. As is known, the Huanan Market located in Wuhan, China, is referred to as the starting point for the spread of the Corona Virus. The reason is, Huanan Market sells various wild animals for consumption, such as dog meat, snakes, rats, and others. The extreme market in Tomohon, North Sulawesi, is not much different.
When we arrived at the front of Tomohon Market, North Sulawesi, at first glance, there was nothing extraordinary and it was the same as other traditional markets. Like a traditional market, this market sells various kinds of daily needs such as clothes and other necessities. But moving to the back, precisely in the meat seller area, one by one information began to be revealed.
Meat that is not commonly consumed is the main dish. Ranging from rats, dogs, pythons, bats and pigs exposed on the tables of butchers. One thing that is interesting, sometimes there are dogs that are still alive are also sold here. This phenomenon is what makes Tomohon Market different from traditional markets in the archipelago. Even the name Tomohon Market makes foreign tourists visiting North Sulawesi curious about its uniqueness.
The dog's body is dark in color, its head is hanging down and it is common in Tomohon Market. Different again from the pork seller, the whole head of this fat animal is displayed with the remnants of blood still attached to the cutting table. Both types of pigs and wild boars can be obtained at this market whose full name is Tomohon Faith Market. If you want to see how to remove wild boar bristles with fire, you can also look at this market.
If dog or pork meat is still common, what about bat and mouse meat, complete with heads. The scary face of a bat can definitely make your face frown a little when you see it. The rats sold here are also not rats that live in sewers, but forest rats that have white tails.
The variety of meat traded in Tomohon Market cannot be separated from the Minahasa Tribe, which is the indigenous people of North Sulawesi. The people here are known to eat all kinds of animal meat. As long as the meat can be processed and eaten, then the Minahasa people will try to put it in the stomach. That's the term that is often circulated among the Minahasa people.
Especially on Saturdays and Sundays, the meat traded at Tomohon Market is becoming more diverse and unusual. Black monkey meat, which is a rare animal typical of Sulawesi, is sometimes also traded here. Not to mention python meat and cat meat are also meat that is also sold in this market.
Walking around seeing this type of 'unusual meat' is an exciting and disgusting activity at Tomohon Market. It is recommended for those who are not strong with blood and animal lovers, do not come to this market. Smelling the fishy smell and seeing the flesh of an animal that is still intact complete with its head will be a scary thing for you.
