狗肉价格在抗议杀狗声中大涨

Animal rights activists may not have succeeded in shutting down an annual dog-eating festival in southwestern China, but they did help drive a massive increase in the price of dog meat.

动物权益保护者也许没能让中国西南地区一年一度的“狗肉节”停办，但却无意中推动了狗肉价格的大幅上涨。

Prices for cooked dog in the city of Yulin, in China's Guangxi region, shot as high as 50 yuan ($8) per kilogram over the weekend, according to Chinese media. The Beijing Morning Post said the new price was a record for the meat.

据中国媒体报道，在中国广西省玉林市，熟狗肉的价格在上周末暴涨至每公斤人民币50元。《北京晨报》称，这创下了狗肉价格的新高。

China Real Time was unable to find a dog market expert to confirm whether a new record had been set. Still, one local resident told us prices had nearly doubled year-on-year -- a rise he attributed to increased interest as a result of activists' complaints about the festival.

“中国实时报”(China Real Time)未能找到一位狗肉市场的专家来证实狗肉价格是否已创纪录新高。不过，一位当地居民对“中国实时报”称，狗肉价格已较上年同期上涨了近一倍。他表示，这是因为在动物保护者抨击“狗肉节”之后，人们对狗肉的兴趣反而上升。

'I bought raw dog meat at 26 yuan (per kilogram) last year and this year it went up to 40 yuan,' said the resident, who would only give his surname, Ning. 'The dog lovers are providing Yulin with free advertising. There are so many people coming here to eat, so we have to pay more.'

这位只称自己姓宁（音）的居民表示，去年买生狗肉的价格是每公斤人民币26元，今年已经涨到40元。他说：爱狗人士给玉林市做了免费广告，这么多人慕名来此吃狗肉，我们就只能花更高的价钱买狗肉。

The Yulin festival, during which participants pair dog with lychees and generous quantities of grain alcohol, takes place every year on June 21, the traditional start of summer. This year it came under heavy fire from foreign and Chinese animal rights advocates, including well-known actors and pop stars. According to local media reports, activists poured into the city to hound vendors ahead of the day, leading to violent clashes and prompting increased security.

玉林“狗肉节”在每年6月21日举办，传统上这一天是夏季的开始。参加“狗肉节”的食客们会在吃狗肉时佐以荔枝并豪饮白酒。今年的“狗肉节”受到了国内外动物权益保护者的猛烈抨击，其中不乏知名演员和明星。据国内媒体报道，在“狗肉节”的前一天，动物保护者涌入玉林市去围追狗贩，导致暴力冲突，促使当地政府加强了安保措施。

In years past, as many as 10,000 dogs have sacrificed their lives for the event.

往年在玉林“狗肉节”期间会有多达1万只狗成为桌上美食。

Liang Shasha, an official with the Yulin city government, told China Real Time that dog supplies were lower this year because of stricter checks by health authorities. He said several restaurants also closed down their shops because of harassment from activists.

玉林市政府一名官员梁沙沙（音）告诉“中国实时报”，由于卫生部门加强了检疫工作，今年狗肉供应量有所下降。他表示，由于动保人士的抗议，已有多家餐馆关门。

'This year, a lot of people chose to eat at home to avoid the chaos and trouble, including my family,' Mr. Liang said. 'I went to the market that night and saw a lot of places advertising take out.'

梁沙沙称，今年有很多人选择在家吃狗肉，避开那些争执和麻烦，包括我家里也是这么做的；那天夜里我在市场看到很多地方贴着广告称提供外卖。

The Yulin government had earlier asked civil servants to try to steer clear of the festival to avoid further inflaming animal rights advocates.

玉林市政府早些时候要求公务员不要参加狗肉节，以免进一步激怒动保人士。

While the stricter health checks may have played a role in the steep price increase, locals attributed most of the jump to increased demand, suggesting that the activists may have helped expand the event they were hoping to end. Mr. Liang said some hotels had been booked full the night of the festival.

虽然更加严格的卫生检疫可能是狗肉价格上涨的一个原因，但需求增加主要还是由本地人推动的，这表明原本希望劝说人们不要吃狗肉的动保人士可能反而提高了这一节日的知名度。梁沙沙称，在狗肉节当晚，一些酒店房间都被订满了。

'There were a lot more people this year, including a lot of outsiders,' said Mr. Ning. 'I didn't see many people from other places last year. They came to see what all the fuss was about and try some dog meat.'

上述姓宁的居民称，今年有更多人参加狗肉节，包括许多外地人，去年还不曾看到有这么多外地人来参加，他们都想来看看为什么这个节日引发了这么大的争议，同时也试着品尝狗肉。

Reports said some activists were seen buying dogs to save them from the dinner table, which would play an even more direct role in pushing up the profitability of butchering man's best friend.

有报道称一些动保人士自己掏钱买狗，使它们免遭成为盘中餐的命运，而这一做法对于推高屠宰这些人类最好的朋友所获得的利润起到了直接影响。