Movement to release animals leads to crimes
By Li Qian |
July 6, 2012, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
AN increase in unauthorized releases of wildlife in north China's Hebei Province has severely damaged the local ecology and boosted illegal hunting to provide animals to release, forestry official said.
The exotic species either started reproducing rapidly because of the absence of natural enemies, damaged the environment, or barely survived, said Wu Minglu, a department head with the province's forestry administration.
The escalating demand for wildlife to release has driven more and more pet store owners to purchase animals from illegal hunters, causing harm to the animals, Wu said.
Some who pose as animal rights activists are actually wildlife traders who encourage others to do what they call good works, Xinhua news agency reported yesterday.
One pet shop owner who said he handles 60 percent of the wildlife trading market in the province's capital, Shijiazhuang, admitted he was a member of the city's wildlife release association, according to Xinhua. "Please call me when you need wild animals to set free," he said, adding that he often takes part in the association's activities to find more clients.
Nearly 10 people sell wild snakes and birds to him every day, and the animals would be sold out as soon as dozens of animal rights groups in Shijiazhuang organized releases, which take place about once a week.
Many sparrows are even hunted especially for release, according to Xinhua.
"Wildlife release has generated an illegal profit chain, involving the hunting, selling and releasing," Wu said.
Thousands of snakes and a crocodile were set free in the wilderness in the province's Chengde and Handan cities, causing panic among local villagers. Most of the reptiles were killed by frightened villagers.
According to Chinese law, people who release wild animals from other areas should get approval from local authorities. But those involved in the releases are hard to catch, according to officials.
The exotic species either started reproducing rapidly because of the absence of natural enemies, damaged the environment, or barely survived, said Wu Minglu, a department head with the province's forestry administration.
The escalating demand for wildlife to release has driven more and more pet store owners to purchase animals from illegal hunters, causing harm to the animals, Wu said.
Some who pose as animal rights activists are actually wildlife traders who encourage others to do what they call good works, Xinhua news agency reported yesterday.
One pet shop owner who said he handles 60 percent of the wildlife trading market in the province's capital, Shijiazhuang, admitted he was a member of the city's wildlife release association, according to Xinhua. "Please call me when you need wild animals to set free," he said, adding that he often takes part in the association's activities to find more clients.
Nearly 10 people sell wild snakes and birds to him every day, and the animals would be sold out as soon as dozens of animal rights groups in Shijiazhuang organized releases, which take place about once a week.
Many sparrows are even hunted especially for release, according to Xinhua.
"Wildlife release has generated an illegal profit chain, involving the hunting, selling and releasing," Wu said.
Thousands of snakes and a crocodile were set free in the wilderness in the province's Chengde and Handan cities, causing panic among local villagers. Most of the reptiles were killed by frightened villagers.
According to Chinese law, people who release wild animals from other areas should get approval from local authorities. But those involved in the releases are hard to catch, according to officials.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
