Thousands of local people have signed up on large placards to pledge the refusal to eat wild animals as part of the campaign to mark the World Environment Day in this capital of south China's Guangdong province.

This event was initiated by Li Changchun，a Political Bureau member of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee. It has received extensive support from people from all walks of life.

Guangdong abounds in wildlife resources，including 720 species of wild animals with 35 under the national first-class protection and 151 under the national second-class protection.

However，local residents are in the tradition of eating wildlife， such as giant lizards，pangolins，owls，giant salamanders and even throstles. This has reduced the amount of the wildlife in the province substantially.

Recently，the Standing Committee of the Guangdong Provincial People's Congress has formulated a regulation on meting our severe penalties to wildlife hunters and eaters.

(Xinhua 06/07/2001)