Guangdong metes out tough penalties on wildlife eaters
( 2001-06-04 13:58 ) (8 )

South China's Guangdong Province, whose inhabitants have a tradition of eating wildlife, will impose severe penalties on hunters and eaters of wildlife on the state protection list, as of July 1.

According to a regulation issued by the local legislature Friday, a restaurant customer who knows that the dish he or she is eating contains ingredients from protected wildlife will be fined 10,000 yuan (US$1,219), a sum about three times the average local monthly income.

Those who are found to be responsible for hunting, processing, purchasing or slaughtering such wildlife will be fined up to 100, 000 yuan (US$12,190), according to the regulation.

Many Chinese believe that the meat of wildlife has high nutritional and tonic value.