Beijing police discover 32 illegal wildlife cases

Thirty-two cases of illegal hunting or purchasing wild animals have been uncovered involving 33 suspects since a crackdown against illegal consumption of wildlife was launched on April 10, Beijing police said on Sunday.

The police seized 74 wild animals categorized in China as the first-grade and second-grade State protected animals, including African grey parrots and cockatoos, as well as nearly 50 wild birds and 21 pangolin scales, according to a statement of the Beijing Public Security Bureau.

On April 16, police in the capital city's Chaoyang district caught two suspects, who were respectively identified as Liu and Wang, for allegedlly buying wild animals, and recovered more than 40 wild birds, including one cockatoo and one African grey parrot, at their homes, the statement said, adding the two suspects have been detained.

In another case, a 35-year-old man surnamed Hu is also under criminal detention in Daxing district after he was found selling wild animals through QQ, a popular instant messaging tool in the country. He was caught on April 14.

The bureau highlighted the significance of protecting the wildlife, noting Chinese laws and a new decision adopted by the nation's top legislature have also shown the country's determination against illegal consumption of wild animals.

The Chinese Criminal Law clarifies that those illegally hunting, buying, selling or transporting wild animals on the State protection list, endanger animals or the wildlife-related products will face an imprisonment of more than 10 years and fines if their behaviors are identified as"extremely serious".

On Feb 24, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the country's top legislative body, also passed the decision that clearly stipulates all wildlife on the protection list of the existing Wild Animal Protect Law or other laws, and all terrestrial wildlife, including those artificially bred and farmed, are banned from consumption.

"Over the past month, police across Beijing strictly cracked down on people who illegally hunt or kill wild animals by trap, poison or electric shock, and paid higher attention to those illegally buying, transporting or selling the wildlife," the bureau said in the statement, adding they will continue the crackdown campaign.

People can dial 110 or 010-84273363 to report such cases to the police, it said.