Five people were arrested on Tuesday for engaging in the illegal trade and transport of endangered wild animals in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

 

The security bureau in Lingwu city on Monday announced they had seized a van carrying 132 wild animals, including owls and steppe eagles, on January 22. They detained four people.

 

The bureau seized another suspect called Ma on February 13 in Xiji county. He has allegedly conducted an illegal trade in wild animals for a long time.

 

Ten of the animals found in the van died in captivity. The surviving 122 were later released back to the wilderness.

 

Further investigation is still under way.

 

(CRI February 27, 2007)