China passes law to jail people who eat endangered animals

People found eating rare species face a ten-year prison sentence

Chinese authorities have passed a law making the consumption of rare wild animals an offence punishable by ten-years in prison.

Chinese authorities have passed a law making the consumption of rare wild animals an offence punishable by ten-years in prison.

Giant pandas, golden monkeys and Asian black bears are among 420 wild animal species considered rare or endangered by the government.

The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature has now passed an interpretation of the criminal law which states that anyone found eating animals from this list will face a jail sentence of up to ten years, Chinese state media Xinhua has reported.

People who purchase illegally hunted animals will also be prosecuted under the legislation.

In March, Zhanjiang police seized the body of a tiger and tiger products during a raid where at least ten tigers have been slaughtered to entertain wealthy businessmen in a Chinese city.