bear paw seizure in China

Chlidonias

Chlidonias

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Chinese customs seize huge haul of bear paws
Chinese customs officials have released photos of a haul of 213 bear paws, seized from two Russian men who allegedly hid the parts in the tyres of their van in an attempt to smuggle them into China.

The two men were detained by officials in northern China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region last month but the haul was only displayed on Monday, the Global Times reports.

The seized paws, worth an estimated $485,000, are believed to have come from the brown bears.

The men had allegedly attempted to smuggle the body parts in the tyres of their van and in a spare tyre.

The appendages are highly prized in some parts of China, where they are considered a delicacy and used in traditional medicine.
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Are bear paws illegal in China? I know they are used in traditional medicine, but are they illegal? I am trying to figure out why Chinese customs officials seized them. Improper permits? Evading taxes? Didn't pay the bribes? Or simply illegal in China? I am not sure what message Customs are trying to send.
 
brown bears are protected in China, so it is illegal to trade in their parts.

See this story which expands a little on the other story: Chinese Authorities Seize 213 Bear Paws Smuggled from Russia - IBTimes UK
Authorities in China have seized 213 bear paws after finding them buried in the tyres of a Russian passenger van attempting to enter the country.


In the biggest bear paw smuggling case China has ever seen, two Russian suspects were detained by customs police in Manzhouli, the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

Police said the two suspects looked suspicious during customs checks, so decided to check the van. The paws had been stuffed inside the wheels and the spare tyre when they were found on 22 May.

The paws are believed to have come from brown bears, which are protected under Chinese law.

In Russia, bear paws are worth around 2,000 Russian Rubles (£40) per kilo, but their value in China is around 5,000 Yuan (£520).

Demand for bear paws is high in China, with many believing they have a high nutritional value and others using them to treat rheumatism in traditional medicine.


Zhang Xiaohai, director of China's external affairs office for the Animals Asia Foundation, told the Global Times: "The demand is huge because more people can afford them and the country has the tradition to treat bear paw as a rare ingredient for cuisine or as an expensive present.

"Bear farms in China exacerbate the situation as they also sell paws illegally which stimulates the growing trade."

In 2008, six people from China and Russia were charged with trafficking after being found with 480 bear paws while travelling through Primorye in Russia to China.

The most prominent members of the group were sentenced to eight years in jail.
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One would presume Asiatic black bears aren't protected, given their numbers in bile farms.


I should also say, don't open the links if you like bears.
 
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