Illegal Hunting Threatens China’s Biodiversity
Assessing the illegal hunting of native wildlife in China
A study reveals that illegal hunting within China’s borders is a significant threat to its biodiversity. The research, based on thousands of convictions from 2014 to 2020, found that 21% of China’s amphibian, reptile, bird, and mammal species were illegally hunted, including 25% of endangered species. Larger body size, wider habitat range, and proximity to urban markets increase the likelihood of a species being hunted. Most convictions were related to commercial poaching, and regions near cities had higher conviction rates. This study highlights the urgent need to address illegal hunting in China.
Liang, D., Giam, X., Hu, S. et al. Assessing the illegal hunting of native wildlife in China. Nature (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06625-0
