China's General Administration of Customs was given one of six 2004 Clark R. Bavin Wildlife Law Enforcement Awards, for working to stop the illicit trade in tiger and leopard skins, China Radio International reported Saturday.

The awards are presented by the Species Survival Network, a global coalition of nearly 80 wildlife conservation organizations.

The award winners also include Kenya, Cambodia and Thailand.

In October last year, Chinese General Administration of Customs blocked a car entering China from India, and confiscated 31 tiger skins, 581 leopard skins and 778 otter skins.

It is Asia's largest single seizure of big cat skins.
 
(CRI October 9, 2004)