Shanghai announces first update to its protected wild animals list

Shanghai announced updates to its list of local key protected wild animals on Friday, with the aim of cracking down on indiscriminate hunting and illegal trade as well as raising public awareness to better protect and manage the wild animals in the city area.

The updated "List of Provincial Key Protected Wild Animals in Shanghai" is a complementary document to the "National Key Protected Wild Animals List". These are the first amendments to be made to Shanghai's local list since it was first released in 1993.

In the updated edition, 19 species have been removed, 20 have been added while new information has been added for two species already on the list. A total of 47 wildlife species are included on the new list - four mammals, 21 birds, 20 reptiles and two amphibians.

Species such as leopard cats and reed parrotbills were removed from the local list as they are on the national list for protection.

Newly added species on the list include the Mustela sibirica, Meles meles, Lepus sinensis, Dendrocopos major, Hirundo rustica, Cecropis daurica, Gekko hokouensis and Calamaria septentrionalis.

The listed wild animals are now protected under the law. Eating the listed wildlife will be legally prohibited, while hunting them will require a license, with limitations placed on the numbers permitted to be killed.

Artificial breeding for the protected wild animals will require the filing of a report with local authorities, while trade related to them will require certificates of legitimacy.