Hunting for sport ignites public fury

An undated photo from a bear-hunting suspect's mobile phone shows the illegal poach activities. [Photo/IC]

CHENGDU - One man discovered vanity may be China's most dangerous game after police discovered a photo of him with an illegally poached bear in the southwestern province of Sichuan.

Wealthy businessman Li Chengzhang was apprehended by police after he took part in illegal hunting at a protected forest, photographing himself with his trophy kill for use on social networking sites.

The incident occurred in October 2014 after Li and four friends came across a black bear in Tangjiahe National Nature Reserve and shot it.

The hunters peeled off skin of the bear the next day, cutting it into several pieces and carrying it to the Mianyang City.

Li said he has hunted for more than ten years and usually eats the wild animals by himself. This time, his acquaintance introduced to him a real estate tycoon who wanted to buy the bear. They traded at the side of an expressway.

Four poachers connected to Li were arrested by police in Qingchuan County in Guangyuan City in early November.

Police later found a picture of a black bear hanging on a tree in one of their mobile phones, leading to the arrest of Li.

The case is special because most of the suspected poachers are wealthy, addicted to the hunt, which they consider entertainment, rather than to make money, said Wang Wei, head of the county's forest police.

Every time they catch an animal, they show it off on social networks, he said.

After investigation, police busted 13 suspects, and seized 13 guns and 23 wild animal products, including the head of a macaque and the horns of the rare Himalayan goat-like goral.