China launches campaign to protect migratory birds

ANKARA

China has launched a campaign to protect migratory birds as the migration season begins, state-run media reported on Saturday.

A joint campaign was launched on Friday for the protection of birds by five provinces including Hunan, Hubei, Jiangxi, Guangdong and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, which is the main route of migratory birds, Xinhua News reported.

Under the campaign, authorities will ensure to protect these birds while strengthening inspections in key areas such as markets, restaurants and online platforms, and will target illegal hunting, consumption and trafficking of migratory birds and their products.

China is home to nearly 1,500 species of birds and more than half of which are migratory birds while four out of nine major migratory bird routes pass through the country, according to report.

"These five provincial regions are critical areas along the migratory bird routes, making this protection effort an important step in China's cross-regional collaboration to protect these birds," said Yan Jian, secretary-general of China Wildlife Conservation Association.

These provinces will also establish temporary checkpoints during the season to monitor the migration and protect the birds.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid