China Endangered Species Hunt

Kill-To-Conserve Hunting Licenses Offered to Tourists

In October, 2002, Zhou Shengxian, director of the State Forestry Administration, reported that China's endangered species - including pandas, golden monkeys, and Tibetan antelopes - would receive more effective protection. More nature reserves and breeding bases were planned to take place within the following four years. Intense preservation and artificial breeding efforts of endangered species and endangered plants were well under way, Zhou also reported. Laws were passed to prevent illegal deforestation.

Zhou admitted that in spite of their progress, problems remained. Deforestation, poaching, and damage to the ecosystem were not - according to Zhour - halted yet.

Four years later, marking the timeline at which more reserves and breeding bases should be in place, China has announced something that most people can't believe: The hunt for endangered species is on in what the Chinese government is calling a "kill-to-conserve" campaign.

The Beijing Youth Daily reported on August 2nd that the Chinese government will be auctioning licenses to foreigners. These licenses are based on the type and number of animals to be hunted. According to the daily, a wolf - the only predators on the list - will run for $200. Wild yaks, of which there are fewer than 15,000 remaining in the entire world, will be auctioned at $40,000. Bids to bag an argali (wild sheep prized for their massive spiral horns) begin at $10,000. Taking place the Sunday, August 13 in Chengdu, capital of the southwestern province of Sichuan, the auction will be "the first of its kind in Chinese history".

According to CNN, five western areas, including Qinghai, Shaanxi and Gansu provinces and the autonomous regions of Ningxia and Xinjiang, are involved in the auction.