Wildlife protection efforts stepped up

China has pledged to enhance its protection of wildlife species in the next five years, especially those endangered by threats of poaching and fragmented habitat, including the giant panda, African elephant and Siberian tiger.

"Protection of wildlife specifies will be included in the 13th Five-Year-Plan (2016-20)," Meng Xianlin, director of the Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora Import and Export Management Office, said on Thursday, World Wildlife Day.

"We will start special protection projects for giant panda, Siberian tigers, African elephants, and carry out protection for critically endangered animals such as the snow leopard," said Meng. "We will also curtail ivory smuggling as well as tighten regulations on wildlife imports and exports."