Last month, authorities in China confiscated 100 kilograms of bear paws. Many of the animals had been massacred in Russia, then the paws smuggled into China. Neither country is managing to control this monstrous trade.
Bear paws are a coveted delicacy in China, fetching up to ten times the price that they do in Russia. This is despite some species having a second-class protected status under Chinese law, with bear hunting and the sale and eating of bear products strictly prohibited in the country.
The Chinese government must intensify its efforts against wildlife trafficking. Extensive publicity and public education will be the most effective way to kill demand for wildlife delicacies.
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Yuan, Z., Han, Y. & Weng, Q. Engage the public to stop bear trafficking. Nature 526, 640 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/526640a
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/526640a