In China, People Caught Eating Rare Animals Face Jail Time

The sale of endangered animals for food purposes is a common practice in countries like China, and it helps fuel illegal poaching and trading. In a recent news event, China's government has approved legislature that puts a 10 year jail sentence on anyone found eating endangered wildlife. It will also impose punishment for the illegal trade of these animals.

The Giant Panda - an unfortunate victim of this trade.
via Wikipedia - used under Creative Commons License

The bill will essentially strengthen laws that were already in place, and clearly define the practice as illegal. Authorities have found that people committing these crimes were walking away without punishment, and as a result the practice has only been growing. China is the largest market for this kind of trade because of the diversity of wildlife in that region, and because they use many animals not only for food, but for traditional medicines. Many of the "medicinal" properties of these animals were debunked years ago, but that has not stopped the poaching. People also consume these animals purely as a social statement, or to show respect for guests.

Animals included in this bill are Giant Pandas, Pangolins, Asian Black Bears, Golden Monkeys, and Sharks, as well as many more. Pangolins are armadillo-like creatures whose scales are believed to have detoxifying powers. Asian Black Bears are often kept on farms for their bile to be harvested, as it is believed to treat multiple ailments. Shark fins are a common occurrence in Chinese cuisine, specifically shark fin soup.

via Wikipedia - used under Creative Commons License

The country defines 420 animals as being endangered. In addition to strengthening the laws against those killing and eating the animals, it will place up to a 3 year jail sentence on those who buy the animals. This is important as well, not only because the buying of the animals fuels the trade, but because many of the animals that are eaten are imported from other countries such as Myanmar or Vietnam.

This law has technically been in place since 1998, and has undergone numerous revisions. The bill is scheduled to be reviewed and revised again 5 years from now. Wildlife in China still faces numerous threats each day, such as poaching for other purposes, and the declining quality of the environment, but China is taking a huge step towards ending the violence by strengthening this law and closing the loopholes.

SOURCES

China Approves Jail Time for Rare Animal Eaters. (n.d.). Discovery News. Retrieved , from http://news.discovery.com/animals/endangered-species/china-approves-jail-time-for-rare-animal-eaters-140425.htm

Jail for eaters of endangered wild animals in China. (n.d.). BBC News. Retrieved , from http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-27155441

Wild animal eaters might face jail time. (n.d.). Shanghai Daily. Retrieved , from http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/article_xinhua.aspx?id=213849

Eating habits in south China driving endangered animals to extinction. (n.d.).ChinaDialogue. Retrieved , from https://www.chinadialogue.net/article/show/single/en/5506-Eating-habits-in-south-China-driving-endangered-animals-to-extinction-

Penalty enhanced for killing, eating endangered species. (n.d.). China Daily. Retrieved , from http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2014-04/22/content_17452033.htm