10 Of The Weirdest Animals That People Eat

Pork, chicken, and beef are some of the most common foods that Americans eat. Other animals such as ducks or alligators are treated as an uncommon delicacy, but some people truly enjoy having unique meat. That spreads even more across the world, where some animals that we wouldn’t even consider eating in most of America are sometimes even common dishes elsewhere. Here are some of the strangest animals that people eat, and you’ll be shocked throughout.

Ants

Similar to other insects, ants can be offered as a fried or baked delicacy on a stick. Perhaps the most interesting option is to eat them inside of chocolate that’s found in France.

Dogs

We’ve all heard the jokes about not bringing cats or dogs near a Chinese restaurant as they might eat them. While the United States doesn’t eat dog because it’s a domestic pet, other countries view it as a great source of protein.

Scorpions

China commonly has fried scorpions on a stick. They might kill people with a poisonous sting, but they actually taste like greasy popcorn when cooked. They’re plentiful around the world, so don’t feel bad about eating them.

Spiders

Yes, believe it or not, spiders are something that various countries likes to eat. Due to the era of starvation in Cambodia, they’ve become an acquired taste and still can be bought from road vendors.

Rats

They’re disgusting creatures, but they offer a lot of protein. It’s actually offered as an everyday food in places like Hawaii and Polynesia. While not as famous in the continental 48 states, swamp rats are consumed in the Southern states.

Gorillas

It’s an endangered animal, but it remains an old tradition in Africa to eat gorillas. However, the practice has slowed down recently due to the possibility of affected gorillas containing Simian, Ebola, and HIV viruses.

Horses

Like dogs, horses are frowned upon from eating in the United States because they’re recognized as a pet. However, horse steak is a common item you’ll find in restaurants in other places such as Europe and even north of the border.

Elephants

South Africa is the most popular area to find smoked elephant. It’s another endangered species that this country eats, but that doesn’t stop people from trying to profit on a large amount of meat.

Oysters

This one might be weird to some on the list because it’s a common option even in the United States. Why it’s on the list is that most people don’t realize what they’re eating is alive. Most oysters are served alive because they rapidly die and deteriorate when separated from the shell.

Silkworms

Perhaps the most disgusting thing on this list, silkworms are actually a common tradition in Korea. Served on kabobs fried or boiled, it’s a bitter treat that features juices running after people first bite into them.