7 suspects detained over Tibetan antelope car chase

China Plus Published: 2017-10-07 15:59:17
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Seven people have been detained by police and are under investigation for chasing a herd of Tibetan antelopes, using off-road vehicles, reports thepaper.cn.

The drivers of two off-road vehicles are now under investigation for chasing Tibetan antelopes on October 4, 2017. [Photo: Weibo/Safe Lhasa]

The drivers of two off-road vehicles are now under investigation for chasing Tibetan antelopes on October 4, 2017. [Photo: Weibo/Safe Lhasa]

It followed the posting of a short video online showing two vehicles driving close to a herd of Tibetan antelopes, which officials identified as being near Co Ngoin Lake in Tibet Autonomous Region.

An official investigation was immediately launched by local police.

Photos of two white off-road vehicles chasing Tibetan antelopes on October 4, 2017 were posted online two days later. [Photo: Weibo]

Photos of two white off-road vehicles chasing Tibetan antelopes on October 4, 2017 were posted online two days later. [Photo: Weibo]

Police said the suspects had approached the Tibetan antelopes in the off-road vehicles in order to take photos of them at close range, and did not intend to hit them. No Tibetan antelope was killed or injured as a result of the incident.

The investigation is still underway.

Photos of two white off-road vehicles chasing Tibetan antelopes on October 4, 2017 were posted online two days later. [Photo: Weibo]

Photos of two white off-road vehicles chasing Tibetan antelopes on October 4, 2017 were posted online two days later. [Photo: Weibo]

Tibet is home to around 125 species of wild animals of national priority protection, including Tibetan antelope, wild yak and kiang, a type of wild donkey.

The Tibetan antelope is native to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. More than 200,000 individuals remain in the wild, most of which dwell in the Qiangtang National Nature Reserve. They have become endangered due to poaching in recent years.

The Tibetan antelope is listed among the protected species under China's national legislation.

According to its National Wildlife Protection Law, if anyone, in violation of the provisions of this Law, hunts or catches wildlife without a hunting license or in violation of the prescriptions of the hunting license, his catch and unlawful income shall be confiscated and he shall be fined by the department of wildlife administration and, in addition, his hunting gear may be confiscated and his hunting license revoked.



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