On Thursday, scientists revealed new data on the possible origins of the Covid-19 pandemic – and brought a strange, stocky creature into the spotlight.
Meet the raccoon dog; it takes its name from its black markings on its face, which give the animal a masked appearance and a more than passing resemblance to these famous urban trash looters.
The animals were sold at least occasionally at the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market, where many virologists suspect the Covid-19 pandemic may have started.
Scientists had previously announced that swabs from the market had tested positive for the coronavirus that causes Covid-19. The new data revealed that some of these same swabs also contained significant genetic material from raccoon dogs.
The results did not prove that raccoon dogs were infected with the virus or that they had transmitted it to humans. But they are consistent with the possibility that wild animals in the market triggered the Covid-19 pandemic.
Here’s what you need to know about the animal in the news.
What are raccoon dogs?
Despite their name, raccoon dogs are not close relatives of raccoons. They are part of the Canidae family, a group that also includes domestic dogs, and are very closely related to foxes. Unlike other canids, they can hibernate in winter.
Raccoon dogs are omnivores and feed on food sources like rodents and berries. Although they appear slender in summer, they gain weight in winter, when their fur also becomes thicker. They are monogamous and often live in pairs.
Where do they live?
Raccoon dogs are native to East Asia, including parts of China, Korea, and Japan, where they are known as tanuki.
They have also spread to parts of Europe, where they are considered an invasive species. They are sometimes hunted as pests.
Why are they grown and sold?
Raccoon dogs have long been bred for their fur. China is one of the main producers of raccoon dog skins; in 2014, the country produced more than 14 million skins, or 100 times more than Europe, according to a report.
They are also sold for their meat in live animal markets. They were sold at the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market until at least November 2019, according to the researchers. reported.
Are they at the origin of the virus responsible for Covid-19?
Not necessarily. Laboratory experiments have shown that raccoon dogs are susceptible and capable of transmitting the new coronavirus. But this does not mean that they constitute the natural reservoir of the virus. Even if the raccoon dogs at the market had been infected, they could have been an intermediate host, catching the virus from bats or another species.
Raccoon dogs and bats were common in and around some farms that supplied the market, the scientists noted.
A similar scenario could have occurred twenty years ago, after the emergence of SARS, also caused by a coronavirus. In 2003, scientists found evidence of infected palm civets and raccoon dogs at a live animal market in Shenzen, China. But subsequent research eventually showed that bats were the natural reservoir of the virus that causes SARS; raccoon dogs appear to be intermediate hosts.
Can I pet a raccoon dog if I see one?
This is probably not a good idea, as tempting as it may be. Aside from Covid-19, animals are known to be vectors of other diseases, including rabies. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals recommend against keeping raccoon dogs as pets.