Beijing court sentences 5 defendants for illegal hunting

(ECNS) -- The Beijing Miyun District People's Court has sentenced four defendants to six to seven months in prison, and one defendant to five months of detention, for illegally hunting wildlife in Beijing.

The court also ruled that the five people will pay compensation for the loss of 1,800 yuan ($258.47) in wild animal resources, with a consecutive compensation of 3,600 yuan. They must also issue a public apology.

This is the first public-interest litigation case to be punished with compensation and an ordered apology for hunting wild animals in Beijing.

On April 28 this year, the five people used a slingshot and other illegal tools, including professional lighting equipment and thermal imagers, to capture six wild animals in Miyun District.

The six wild animals were pheasants, which have important ecological, scientific and social value and are protected by the state, with an overall value of 1,800 yuan.

The entire region of Beijing is a forbidden hunting area throughout the year.

The court said that the five defendants' illegal hunting and killing of wildlife caused the loss of national wildlife resources, destroyed biodiversity and ecological balance, and harmed the public interest.