Three men are caught on spot for animal poaching in Shandong.Photo: web

When the police officers in Heze city, East China's Shandong Province, were patrolling recently, three suspicious men caught their attention. The officers immediately set up surveillance and detained the three men. After a thorough investigation at the scene, 41 wild pigeons were discovered, and the three men admitted to the crime of illegally hunting wild pigeons.

According to the officers, they discovered a forest in their jurisdiction that was intermittently lit up during the patrol, and they suspected illegal poaching. Due to the complex terrain and overgrown grass in the area, the police officers decided to wait near a suspicious vehicle to avoid alerting the suspects. When the suspects walked out of the forest, the officers made the arrest. After an initial investigation, two bullets, two headlamps, and 41 wild pigeons were found at the scene. The three suspects were taken into police custody, and the case is under further investigation.

The illegal poaching has sparked heated discussions among Chinese netizens, who believe that protecting wildlife is the responsibility of the society. "In order to achieve harmony between humans and the ecosystem, such behavior should be dealt with seriously," a netizen said.