Zero Tolerance! China Launches Joint Multi-Agency Crackdown on Illegal Bird Hunting and Trafficking

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China’s government and judicial authorities have vowed to continue taking tough action against the illegal hunting and trafficking of birds, using the strictest legal measures to protect the country’s environment and ecosystems.

On Friday, the Supreme People’s Court (SPC), the Ministry of Public Security and the National Forestry and Grassland Administration jointly released five representative cases involving bird-related crimes. The agencies stressed the importance of working together to combat activities that threaten protected wild bird species.

“Protecting wild birds is essential to safeguarding the ecosystems that support human life,” said Wu Zhaoxiang, chief judge of the SPC’s Environment and Resources Division.

He expressed hope that the public will learn from the published cases, become more aware of relevant laws, reject behaviors that harm wildlife, and actively contribute to environmental protection.

Wu also urged courts across the country to apply judicial measures firmly and impose severe penalties on those involved in the illegal hunting and trafficking of nationally protected bird species. He called on society as a whole to strengthen efforts to protect wildlife.

One of the highlighted cases involved a man surnamed Dong, who used glue nets and other tools to capture more than 880 wild birds. Among them were numerous yellow-breasted buntings, a species listed under China’s highest level of national protection. Dong received a seven-year prison sentence and a fine of 30,000 yuan ($4,285) for damaging precious wildlife resources.

“Birds and other wild animals are valuable natural resources and an important part of the ecological system,” said Li Chunjie, deputy head of the Ministry of Public Security’s division responsible for investigating food, drug and environmental crimes. He added that authorities are determined to eliminate threats to public safety.

Police across China have pledged a “zero-tolerance” stance on crimes involving harm to birds and other wildlife, especially those involving illegal hunting tools. Law enforcement will continue to confiscate modified drones, snares, traps, bird nets and other prohibited equipment used to target wild animals.