After a month-long investigation, Pizhou police in China’s Jiangsu province uncovered a case of trafficking in protected animals, seizing more than 1,800 gallinules (a type of aquatic bird that is beneficial to the environment and has scientific research value), on Aug 11.

This particular bird was added to the endangered species list of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, in 2012, so that anyone who traffics in just a few of the birds is guilty of a crime.

The policeman in charge of the case, Shi Rongxin, said that while they were searching a sand company warehouse, they found more than 1,800 of them in 14 boxes and arrested two suspects surnamed Tang and Hu.

In describing their method of smuggling, Hu said that when they transported rabbits and cats, he would pack the gallinules in separate packaging surrounded by other baskets containing rabbits and cats to avoid the police or customs checkpoints. The two have been accused of committing a crime, violating China’s wildlife conservation law and hunting illegally.

The Jiangsu police said they have been working with the provincial forestry departments to free captive animals as soon as they are caught. As for some gallinules that were already sold, the police say they are still trying to track them down.

Gallinules are protected wading birds which are beneficial for human beings and scientific research. [Photo/Legal Daily Website]

Storage boxes for gallinules stacked in the police station courtyard for evidence. [Photo/Legal Daily Website]

Jiangsu police work with forestry dept officers to free captive gallinules. [Photo/Legal Daily Website]