Editor's Note

Foreigners will not need to obtain administrative approval if they want to go hunting or collect wild animal parts that are not under special state protection in China, according to a list made public by the State Council on on October 10.

The government has decided to reduce or adjust the number of items subject to central government approval by 314 in order to further transform governmental functions, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

Changes

↓In 1992, the State Forestry Administration formally approved the establishment of hunting grounds in China.

↓Up until 2006, foreigners were allowed to hunt in China only after a complicated application process.

↓In 2006, China planned to hold the first auction of hunting quotas, selling quotas for about 200 species. Under strong public opposition to the auction, it was suspended.

↓Ever since 2006, the State Forestry Administration has refused to grant hunting licenses to foreigners over public pressure regarding its hunting license auction.

Source: Agencies

Related Laws

According to China's Law on the Protection of Wildlife, it is illegal to hunt animals that are under any level of state protection. However, the law also says that hunting applications for protected animals may be considered for the purposes of scientific research and exhibition.

Chinese law prohibits hunting protected animals unless the hunters are part of an expedition or doing scientific research.

Anyone who intends to hunt or catch wildlife that is not under special state protection must obtain a hunting license and observe the hunting quota assigned. Anyone who intends to hunt with a gun must obtain a gun license from the public security organ of the county or municipality concerned.

Source: Agencies

Know more law on wildlife protection

Controversial Incident

Photo: Southern Metropolis Daily	US hunters application sparks concern on China's hunting ban to foreigners Seven US citizens who have applied for permission to go hunting for wild animals in Northwest China's Qinghai Province have sparked a debate over the country's years-long hunting ban for foreigners.

Viewpoints

Wild animals can be considered to be a "renewable resource," however, it is important to strengthen the country's monitoring of its natural resources and identify which animals are too rare to be hunted.------Li Feng, a professor at the Northeast Forestry University

Source: Xinhua

Weibo comments

@ YAN-荒: Animals should be protected instead of being killed indiscriminately.

@铁血奋青: It is a good thing to cancel the approval process, but there should be some restrictions for foreigners’ hunting in China.

@ Cocaine_亞微博达人: Does China have too many wild animals that are not under special state protection?

@林思朵妈妈: It is breaking the ecological balance.

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