Combating Wildlife-related Crimes

A total of 1,749 people in China were prosecuted for damaging wildlife resources in the first quarter of the year, up 62.4 percent from the same period last year, according to the Supreme People’s Procuratorate.

The procuratorial organs approved the arrest of 400 suspects allegedly involved in such crimes between January and March, 14.9 percent more than in the same period in 2019. 176 suspects were arrested for charges of illegally purchasing, transporting, or selling rare or endangered wild animals and related products, accounting for 44 percent of the total arrests for the first quarter of the year.

The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, China’s top legislature, adopted a decision thoroughly banning the illegal trading of wildlife and eliminating the consumption of wild animals on February 24, aiming to safeguard biological and ecological security and effectively prevent major public health risks.