China
10:57, 25-Feb-2017
Two arrests over 'pangolin feast' scandal in SW China
Updated
10:53, 28-Jun-2018
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Two people suspected of responsiblity for an illegal “pangolin feast” have been detained by local police in southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, media reported on Friday.
The suspects, the manager of a private company surnamed Li and a chef surnamed Yan, have been charged with illegal consumption of rare and endangered wild animals. Former official Li Ning, who also took part in organizing the banquet, was arrested for bribery last year before the pangolin investigation.
A Sina Weibo post featuring details of a pangolin feast has drawn wide public condemnation since the beginning of February.
Screenshot of the controversial Weibo post.
Screenshot of the controversial Weibo post.
The post was put on Weibo on July 15, 2015. User @Ah_cal, a member of an inspection delegation from Hong Kong, expressed thanks to two local officials in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region for “cooking pangolins." He claimed that he had “fallen in love with the flavor.”
Pangolins are under China’s second-class protection. Any forms of illegal trafficking, selling or consuming of wild animals on the national list of protection are criminal offences.
2048km