The live streaming boom in China has become a new way for some people to make money or seek stardom, but it also helps police to detect and catch people involved in illegal activities. One live streamer in south China's Guangdong Province was arrested after police saw footage of a young man live streaming the capture of a snake. The snake happened to be a protected wild species.

In April, Zhao, the amateur snake chaser, was arrested while in possession of a national protected snake - the Ptyas korros - after broadcasting his hunt for reptiles throughout the mountains of Ruyuan County. A total of 75 protected animals have been found at Zhao's place of residence.

Animal-hunters were once spreading all over the country but eventually received a warning from the State Forestry Administration in March, stating that hunting nationally protected animals was officially an illegal act as it violates China's wildlife protection laws. Online live streaming websites such as WeChat, QQ and Sina Weibo have been called on by Guangdong authorities to provide information related to the illegal trade of protected animals.

Zhao admitted to police that he carefully planned his hunt by repeatedly releasing and hunting his own snakes. The whole act was an elaborate, money-inspired business as Zhao encouraged 200,000 of his followers to develop an interest in the animals he "caught".

Previously, two amateur hunters in Shaoguan City, also in the province, reported by netizens, were arrested by local forest police for hunting birds and snakes and live streaming their hunt. In May, a man surnamed Deng, was caught after selling engendered wildlife on a second-hand online marketplace.

Figures from the provincial public security bureau show that there were 60 cases about selling wildlife and related products during the period between March and June this year with an estimated value of 7.5 million yuan (about 1.1 million US dollars). In total, 50 people were caught alongside 11,700 protected animals, both alive and dead, and nearly 1,000 kilograms of animal products.

Li Wenjiang, deputy director of the provincial bureau, said that the act of broadcasting a wildlife hunt is irresponsible, as it advocates other people to do the same and cause a harm.