Want China Times, Xinhua 2014-03-07
Yao Ming talks to reporters on the sidelines of the second session of the 12th CPPCC National Committee on Mar. 6. (Photo/CNS) |
Former NBA
star Yao Ming on Thursday called for the eradication of sales of illegal animal
products in China through legislation and the promotion of animal protection
awareness among the public.
"Buying
ivory is buying bullets," Yao, a member of the National Committee of the
Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), told reporters on
the sidelines of the ongoing annual session of the country's top political
advisory body.
China
introduced special protection for endangered species, such as pandas, golden
monkeys and white-flag dolphins, in the late 1980s, and has enforced a strict
ban on poaching and trading.
Between
December 2013 and January 2014, the country led an operation code-named Cobra
II against international wildlife crimes, which uncovered 350 cases involving
the capture of more than three tonnes of ivory and ivory products, over 1,000
hides and a number of other wildlife products.
The
operation was jointly organized by China, the United States, South Africa, the
Lusaka Agreement Task Force, the ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network, and the
South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network.
In January,
the Chinese government also destroyed 6.1 tonnes of confiscated ivory it had
seized over the years in southern China's Guangdong province.
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