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A total of 80,097 hunting tools were destroyed on Monday in northeast China's Jilin Province during a five-month campaign to combat poaching in the province.

The campaign was launched by the provincial forestry department on Oct.1, 2015 and will last until the end of March, 2016.

So far, the department has sent 52,140 people to comb through 3,791 venues, such as animal farms, markets, restaurants and pharmacies, seizing 314 suspects and 80,097 hunting tools.

Wang Wei, deputy director of the Jilin Provincial Forestry Department, said the campaign, which is the toughest crackdown on poaching in the province's history, focuses on inspection of habitats, stopover sites and breeding grounds. They are striving to eliminate all illegal hunting activities in these areas.

Jilin Province has abundant forest resources, providing good habitats for wild animals, especially endangered species such as Siberian tigers, Sika deer, oriental white storks and red crowned cranes.

"Apparatus used to catch birds and other wild animals are set on fire during a campaign in Northeast China’s Jilin Province, Jan. 25, 2016. Several cities in the province destroyed more 80,000 hunting devices including traps, rings and nets on the same day. The equipment was confiscated during a campaign that started in October last year. (Photo: China News Service/Zhang Yao)"

"Wild animal carcasses seized during a campaign in Northeast China’s Jilin Province. Several cities in the province destroyed more 80,000 hunting devices including traps, rings and nets on the same day. The equipment was confiscated during a campaign that started in October last year. (Photo: China News Service/Zhang Yao)"

2016-01-25 16:57 Xinhua Editor: Gu Liping

Source: http://www.ecns.cn/2016/01-25/197027.shtml