Endangered wildlife needs protection

"Since endangered species in China not only have many kinds and cover large lands, but also live mostly in backward and remote districts, protecting those species is more difficult, not to mention many important wildlife habitats haven't had management organs", said Zhang.

The country needs to strengthen its efforts in protecting endangered wildlife. "Many endangered species are not on the National Key Protected Wild Animals List, although they are going extinct", said the director.

It's important to revise the National Key Protected Wild Animals List as soon as possible to include those seriously endangered wild animals, he said.

Zhang said the central government has provided 91.9 million yuan ($14.3 million) for protecting 341 kinds of wild animals managed by the State Forestry Administration, which means less than 270,000 yuan is invested on average in every kind of key protected animal. Non-national nature reserves do not get any investment from central finance.

"As for the remote and backward areas where local finance is very limited, it's more unlikely for them to invest necessary capital in protecting local wild animals," said Zhang.

The poor investment and management constitute hindrances to local wildlife protection.

Considering wildlife protection is always a focus of international attention, Zhang said the central government should establish market access for wild animal products, improve the relative protection and compensation system, prohibit people from eating wild animals and impose tougher penalties on discriminately overhunting, smuggling and illegal trading in wildlife.

Laws and regulations on wildlife protection need revision since the current law, published in 1988, is outdated as far as new situations and changes are concerned.

Zhang said the government should strengthen controls on illegal trading of wild animals such as elephants and their products.