Shanghai solved a cross-border case of harming precious and endangered wild animals, and trading exotic pets may be illegal
The Shanghai Forestry Department and the Public Security Bureau recently investigated and handled a case of selling, purchasing, transporting, and delivering nationally protected wild animals without approval.
From September 2022 to January 2023, Li traded ball pythons, sulcata tortoises, leopard tortoises, green iguanas, etc. on the Internet for the purpose of illegal profit-making, which were listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. 》Species in Appendix II, and sold some animals at increased prices, illegally gaining more than 16,000 yuan.
Taking Li's case as an entry point, the forestry department cooperated with the public security organs to detect a cross-border case of harming precious and endangered wild animals. Li's upstream criminal suspects who purchased wild animals through the Internet, other middlemen across the country and illegally purchased wild animals A total of more than 20 people were arrested.
The main criminal suspects involved in the illegal trade chain of endangered wildlife are held criminally responsible in accordance with the law, and the middlemen and illegal buyers with minor violations are investigated and punished by the forestry department where the illegal activities occurred in accordance with the law. Among them, Li was severely punished, with more than 16,000 yuan of illegal income and the wild animals involved in the case confiscated, and he was fined 178,000 yuan, eight times the value of the wild animals involved.
According to investigations, illegally traded wild animals are mainly kept by consumers as "exotic pets." Exotic pets usually refer to non-traditional pets, including some exotic species and even endangered species.
Those who purchase, sell, or breed protected exotic pets are suspected of violating the Wildlife Protection Law and will be held legally responsible. If the circumstances are serious, they will also be held criminally responsible. Raising exotic pets may also damage the ecological environment and threaten the safety of the breeders and surrounding people. Of the approximately 200 zoonotic diseases currently known, at least 70 are related to exotic pets.
The forestry department calls on citizens to abide by laws and regulations and consciously resist illegal trade and raising rare and endangered wild animals.
To resolutely curb the illegal trade and consumption of wild animals and effectively maintain ecological security, the Shanghai Greening and City Appearance Bureau, in conjunction with the Municipal Market Supervision Bureau and the Food, Drug and Environmental Investigation Team of the Municipal Public Security Bureau, launched "Operation Clean Breeze" to integrate farmers' markets, flower and bird markets, catering Units, farmhouses, etc. are the key targets of law enforcement inspections, and the main responsibilities of online platforms and physical business households are consolidated through joint inspections, educational warnings, interviews, and signing of responsibility letters.
Recently, law enforcement officers seized a large number of live and frozen snakes in a cold storage and rental house on Tieyang Road, Baoshan District. After identification, more than 1,000 snakes were terrestrial wild animals with important ecological, scientific and social values. The cases involved Value exceeds 300,000 yuan. The inspection team immediately seized the items involved and is conducting follow-up investigations into the case.
Law enforcement officers seized a large number of live and frozen snakes in a cold storage and rental house on Tieyang Road, Baoshan District.
The forestry department reminded that wild animals are natural "disease reservoirs" and are carriers and natural hosts of many zoonotic diseases such as parasites, rabies, plague, and coronavirus. Citizens should consciously resist eating wild animals and stay away from "game". If you discover illegal activities, you can call the 12345 hotline to complain and report.
