China cracks down on poaching monkeys for dinner

NANCHANG, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Police in east China have arrested two men and closed down restaurants in a crack down on those poaching wild animals, especially endangered monkeys, and plating them as delicacies.

The crackdown followed media reports that restaurants in hilly Zixi County, Jiangxi Province, were selling meat from the macaque, an endangered short-tail monkey.

The monkeys were killed illegally on local mountains, sold to farmers' markets, and gruesomely slaughtered and served in several restaurants, according to the reports. Monkey meat can sell for 560 yuan (88 U.S. dollars) per kilogram, while monkey brain can fetch 1,600 yuan per kg.

The identities of the two men taken into police custody were not disclosed. Officials said more arrests may be made as the investigation continues. Four local officials, including the county's forestry bureau chief, have been sacked.

"We insist that no poaching cases happen again," said Yan Gangjun, head of the Jiangxi provincial forestry bureau, adding that a province-wide "severe crackdown" has been launched.

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