China Voice: Strict enforcement needed to guarantee safety of migratory birds
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E-mail Xinhua, October 23, 2012
A recent 12-minute documentary titled "A Massacre on the Millennium Bird Trail" reveals some astonishing facts regarding the deaths of birds that are killed while migrating across China.
Birdwatchers across the country have been saddened to find that many migratory birds fail to complete their journeys due to rampant poaching.
Li Feng, creator of the film, said local villagers in central China's Hunan Province capture the birds to improve their diets, while hobbyists and professional hunters prey on the birds for sport and profit, respectively.
Birds with long necks, such as egrets and herons, sell for between 10 (1.6 U.S. dollars) and 70 yuan, while swans can sell for 300 yuan apiece at local markets in Guidong County, where some of the poaching has occurred.
Billions of birds migrate around the world annually. Three of the world's eight major migratory routes pass through China. In Autumn, birds from Siberia, Inner Mongolia and north China fly to India and southeast Asia along the "millennium bird trail" in Hunan and Jiangxi provinces.
The National Forestry Bureau issued a notice on Monday asking Hunan's provincial authorities to investigate and crack down on the poaching of migratory birds.
The provincial forest public security bureau on Monday began a one-month campaign to prevent poaching in seven cities and prefectures where the birds pass through.
Better late than never. However, more steps are needed to prevent poaching, especially stricter law enforcement and public education.
Although a wildlife protection law has been in place since 2004, poachers brazenly ignore the law due to lax supervision and enforcement.
Local authorities justified their inefficient enforcement by pointing out the remoteness and size of the birds' territory, as well as a lack of qualified staff.
But in order to tackle the problem, authorities need courage and decisiveness to shoulder their responsibilities.
It's easy to pass the buck on to others. Agriculture, forestry and law enforcement departments, as well as industrial and commercial administrations, should work together to give the birds safe passage.
Trading is the root of bird hunting. According to China's wildlife protection law, those who hunt, sell, purchase or transport wild animals that are under special state protection can be punished and subject to criminal prosecution.
Authorities should strengthen their patrols of key hunting areas, as well as inspect markets and restaurants for illegal wares. Through concerted efforts, the channels that keep poachers in business will be cut off.
Those who eat the birds are also to blame. Many Chinese incorrectly believe that wild birds are more nutritious and healthier to eat, despite a lack of scientific evidence. It is up to the government to better educate its people and encourage them to change their habits. Endi
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