Earthworm stem, also known as earthworm stem, is a kind of traditional Chinese medicine. In recent years, with its price rising, the sales of an online machine called "electric earthworm machine" also increased, and a benefit chain of "extermination" killing earthworms began to emerge The reporter searched for keywords such as "electric earthworm machine" and "Earth Dragon instrument". A metal instrument like a large battery is everywhere on the screen, with prices ranging from more than 100 yuan to 800 yuan. The sales volume of some stores has reached as many as 100000 pieces. The comment area is also full of the experience of hunters using the instrument in the field.
After chatting with the seller, the reporter learned that in addition to buying the earthworm machine, the buyer also needs to bring his own battery. The machine is generally used in damp, loose and organic soil, especially in yards, vegetable gardens and farmland. According to the seller, a so-called "luxury electric earthworm machine" with a price of nearly 800 yuan can easily produce more than ten kilograms of earthworms at a time.
Experts said that earthworms can be used as precious drugs to treat a variety of diseases because they contain earthworm, a variety of amino acids, vitamins, etc. at the same time, they can also be sold and used by fishing enthusiasts as natural bait. In recent years, the price of earthworms in the market has increased significantly, which directly promoted the sale of electric earthworm machines.
Sunzhenjun, Professor of School of resources and environment, China Agricultural University: after the development of high-power electric earthworm machine, the efficiency of collecting earthworms has been improved, and the resource of earthworms has further decreased, forming a vicious circle. Therefore, the price of earthworms, that is, earthworms, has skyrocketed. A few years ago, a kilogram of dry products was about 70 yuan. Now, 280 yuan may not be able to receive goods. Some have risen to 300 yuan.
Compensation of 1.59 million yuan for electric earthworm machine merchants
The Seller shall be jointly and severally liable with the hunter
What are the consequences of the "extermination" of earthworms? From a legal point of view, what kind of punishment should businesses selling electric earthworm machines receive?
Experts said that the electric earthworm machine, by introducing the direct current from the battery into the soil, makes the earthworms in the soil drill out of the soil after being stimulated by "electric shock" and let people pick them up. In fact, it not only causes indiscriminate damage to the earthworms, but also causes damage to other organisms in the soil. It is an "extinct" hunting behavior.
On August 12, 2021, Zhuhai intermediate people's Court of Guangdong Province issued the first instance judgment on the first case of "electric earthworm" filed by the China Green Development Association. Three companies selling electric earthworm machines sold hunting tools, which caused buyers to hunt earthworms in the form of electric shock, causing irreversible damage to the ecological environment, and assumed corresponding environmental tort liability according to law. The court ordered the merchants to make an apology and compensate 1.59 million yuan for the loss of ecological environment.
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