The Beijing News (Reporter Li Yukun) "Beijing Wildlife Protection Management Regulations (Draft)" was submitted to the Municipal People's Congress Standing Committee for first instance today (March 26). The "Regulations" (draft) proposed that Beijing completely banned the consumption of terrestrial wild animals, listed aquatic wild animals and foods made from these animals.

What is the status of wildlife protection in Beijing?

Investigate nearly 50 illegal birding sites

Beijing is in a transitional zone of north-south animal distribution, with abundant wildlife resources. There are currently more than 500 families of 102 families of various types of wild animals.

In October 2016, the Beijing News reported that someone was pulling a net to catch birds in a wasteland near Panggezhuang Town, Daxing District, and there were often people selling wild birds in the market.

The person in charge of the Rural Affairs Office of the Standing Committee of the Municipal People's Congress told reporters that their investigation found that the illegal problem of illegally hunting wild birds in Beijing was more prominent. According to incomplete statistics, in recent years, illegal wild hunting sites for wild birds have been investigated and dealt with in 22 nearby suburbs and 27 remote suburbs. With the continuous development of the city's special law enforcement, the phenomenon of poaching in Beijing has shifted to the outskirts, with a large geographical distribution and a more hidden form.

According to surveys, there are 325 units and individuals in Beijing that have been approved to hold artificial breeding licenses for terrestrial wildlife. At present, most of them are no longer engaged in related activities or have not cultivated for the time being. Actually there are 117 breeding units and individuals for breeding terrestrial wildlife. These include 5 zoos (wildlife parks), 31 small-scale ornamental display parks, 8 scientific research and experimental and ambulance institutions, and 73 farms.

The person in charge said that in recent years, Beijing's wildlife social organizations have developed vigorously and the enthusiasm for social participation has risen. There are currently 19 wildlife protection social organizations in Beijing.

Why is legislation early?

Abuse of wild animals infected with virus attracts attention

In recent years, major outbreaks of SARS virus, Ebola virus, and Middle East respiratory syndrome appearing all over the world are closely related to wild animals, and overeating wild animals is one of the main ways for humans to infect the virus. The head of the Beijing Municipal People's Congress Standing Committee's Rural Office said that in the field of health, studies have shown that more than 70% of new infectious diseases originate from animals. Although the source of the new crown pneumonia epidemic has not yet been determined, the risk of disease from wild animals always threatens the safety of human life and physical health, which is certain.

"A new situation has emerged in the management of wildlife protection, especially since the outbreak of the new crown pneumonia epidemic, the major hidden dangers to public health safety caused by wildlife trading and overeating have aroused great concern from the whole society," said Li Fuying, director of the Beijing Bureau of Justice.

The reporter learned that the Standing Committee of the Beijing People's Congress had formulated and promulgated the "Measures for the Implementation of the" People's Republic of China's Wildlife Protection Law "in 1989, establishing surveys, protection measures, delimiting hunting periods and hunting areas for wildlife resources. , And systems for hunting and domesticating wild animals. In July 2016, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress revised the "Wildlife Protection Law of the People's Republic of China", and revised and improved the major systems of the wildlife protection list, habitat protection, artificial breeding management, and prohibition of illegal operation and use.

During the new crown epidemic, on February 24, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress adopted the "Decision on Comprehensive Banning of Illegal Wildlife Trade, Elimination of Abuse of Wild Animals, and Effective Protection of People's Health and Safety". Specific regulations have been made to crack down on illegal wildlife trade and improve the law enforcement management system.

The "Beijing Wildlife Protection Regulations" was established in August 2019. On February 14, 2020, the meeting of directors of the Standing Committee of the Municipal People's Congress decided to advance the review time from May to March.

What actions are strictly prohibited?

In addition to terrestrial wildlife, 17 species of aquatic wildlife are fasted

The draft regulations prohibit the consumption of terrestrial wild animals, listed aquatic wild animals, and foods made from the aforementioned wild animals.

Among them, terrestrial wildlife specifically includes terrestrial wildlife under national key protection, terrestrial wildlife under special protection in this city, terrestrial wildlife with “three types” (terrestrial wildlife with important ecological, scientific, and social value) and other Terrestrial wildlife; Listed aquatic wildlife includes the national key protected aquatic wildlife, and the Beijing key protected aquatic wildlife.

The person in charge of the Rural Affairs Office of the Standing Committee of the Municipal People ’s Congress said that the scope of the bill ’s fasting is slightly wider than that of the “Decision” of the National People ’s Congress. It mainly considers the 17 aquatic wild animals under Beijing ’s key protection, which are relatively rare in Beijing ’s waters. Add it to the fasting range.

The reporter found that the "Decision" of the National People's Congress merely proposed that the consumption of "terrestrial wildlife of important ecological, scientific, and social value" and other terrestrial wildlife protected by the state should be banned. .

In addition to fasting, hunting is also very strict.

The draft bill proposes that hunting and killing of listed wild animals and other terrestrial wild animals that naturally grow and reproduce in the wild environment are prohibited in the Beijing administrative region, except for special circumstances such as scientific research, population control, and epidemic disease surveillance. .

Are wild animals completely inedible?

Some wild animals are allowed to eat according to law

The person in charge of the rural office of the Standing Committee of the Municipal People ’s Congress stated that it is necessary to explain that while illegal eating is completely prohibited, some wild animals are allowed to eat according to law.

Among them, the fasting regulations for terrestrial wild animals stipulate that the draft bill is consistent with the Decision of the National People ’s Congress, that is, the wild animals included in the “Catalogue of Livestock and Poultry Genetic Resources” are implemented in accordance with the provisions of the Animal Husbandry Law, that is, managed according to livestock and poultry.

The permissible range of aquatic wild animals involves four lists, namely, the artificial breeding population of aquatic wild animals listed in the "National Catalogue of National Key Protected Aquatic Wild Animals for Artificial Breeding" and the "National List of Key Protected Economic Aquatic and Wild Plant Resources ( The first batch of "aquatic new species" aquatic wildlife, in accordance with the "Wildlife Protection Law", "Fishery Law" and other relevant laws and regulations, is a fishery resource that can be eaten according to law. Those who are listed in the Appendix of the “International Convention on Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora” and approved by the National Aquatic Animal Species as the National Key Protected Wildlife List, meet certain conditions (such as those that are not considered as wild animals for artificial breeding), and can be eaten according to law .

What are the rules for artificial breeding of wild animals?

Apply for the artificial breeding license to the municipal wildlife protection management department

The draft regulation proposes that the artificial breeding of listed wild animals is limited to special needs such as scientific research, population regulation, medicinal use, and display. The artificial breeding unit shall apply to the municipal wildlife protection administrative department for artificial breeding license, and engage in artificial breeding activities in accordance with the location and species specified in the license.

However, the establishment of terrestrial wildlife breeding sites is prohibited in the central urban areas of Beijing, urban sub-centers, drinking water protection areas, and nature reserves.

Units engaged in artificial breeding of wild animals shall establish a file of artificial breeding wild animals and record the names, quantities, sources, reproduction, immunization, and quarantine of artificially breeding species; shall not destroy wild population resources and ensure that they are necessary according to the habits of wild animals Space for activities, health, and living conditions; provide places, facilities, and technology that are compatible with the purpose, type, and scale of breeding. The bill clearly stipulates that wild animals must not be abused, and information on the flow of artificially-bred wild animals is published on a monthly basis.

The draft regulations require that those listed in the list with mature and stable artificial breeding technology be included in the catalog of genetic resources of livestock and poultry in accordance with law, belonging to poultry and livestock, and shall be implemented in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations on livestock.

How to punish illegal hunting, eating and trading?

Illegal consumption intends to increase penalties

The draft regulations stipulate that due to special circumstances such as scientific research, population regulation, and monitoring of epidemic and epidemic diseases, units that need to hunt wild animals must be reported to the State Council for wildlife protection if hunting and catching wild animals at the first and second levels of the state. Departments and municipal wildlife protection administration departments shall apply for a hunting and hunting license; hunting and catching wildlife that are important in this city or terrestrial wildlife with important ecological, scientific and social value shall apply for a hunting license to the municipal wildlife protection management department .

If a hunting license or hunting license has not been obtained, or if hunting is not carried out in accordance with the provisions of the hunting license or hunting license, or if hunting is carried out using prohibited tools or methods, the wildlife protection administration shall confiscate the hunted wild animals, The confiscation of hunting and hunting tools, the confiscation of illegal gains, the suspension of the hunting or hunting permit or hunting permit, and a corresponding fine.

For illegal consumption of terrestrial wildlife and its products, or listed in the list of aquatic wildlife, the wildlife protection management department shall impose a fine of 2 times to 15 times the value of the wildlife and its products.

Provide market trading services for the purchase and sale of terrestrial wildlife and their products, listed aquatic wildlife, or food products made from terrestrial wildlife and their products, and the listed aquatic wildlife as raw materials, market supervision The administrative department shall confiscate the illegal gains and impose a corresponding fine on the illegal acts.