Police in southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region have arrested a man trying to smuggle 64 bear paws.

The paws, with an estimated total value of 320,000 yuan (US$42,666), were found on October 14, when a Chinese man surnamed Ling was found to be carrying them in a van on the way to neighbouring Hunan Province.

Ling said he had been entrusted by others to transport the paws.

Two of the paws were from Malay bear s and the other 62 from black bear s, both of which are protected species in China.

Bear's paw is a delicacy in Chinese cuisine and is also used to treat rheumatism in traditional Chinese medicine.

(Xinhua News Agency October 26, 2007)