More than 200 cases involving illegal sales of wild animals have been cracked down during a campaign launched this month in East China's Zhejiang Province.

Jointly initiated by the local departments of public security, forestry, as well as industrial and commercial administration, the campaign aimed to eliminate sales of wild animals has mobilized 600 law enforcement members across the province.

A large number of wild animals, such as frogs and snakes, were seized from some restaurants and farm produce markets.

For instance, a truck carrying as many as 1.5 tons of live frogs was detained by police in Ningbo, according to sources.

A raid campaign alone will not eradicate such illegal transactions in the long term, local officials said, adding necessary measures will be taken to make more people aware of the significance of protecting wild animals.

(Xinhua 07/24/2001)