A film crew left Xi'ning, Qinghai Province, yesterday to shoot a documentary featuring the endangered Tibetan antelope in Tibet Autonomous Region.

The film has been jointly sponsored by the State Council's Information Office and the Ministry of Public Security. The documentary "Zoujin Zanglingyang," ("Getting Close to the Tibetan Antelope") will reveal the living conditions of the rare species and the efforts authorities have made to protect animals from poachers.

As many as 20,000 Tibetan antelopes are killed by poachers annually for what is considered the world's finest and warmest wool.

The Tibetan antelope is protected as a Class I species in China, therefore, trade in antelope parts and derivatives are illegal.

(Eastday.com October 10, 2003)