People driving a car chase Tibetan antelopes at a national nature reserve in Southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Oct. 4, 2017. (Photo/Video screenshot from CCTV)
(ECNS) -- Seven people have been fined 105,000 yuan ($15,700) for chasing Tibetan antelopes at a national nature reserve in Southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, according to the local forestry department.
The seven people, including one surnamed Hao, were caught chasing Tibetan antelopes in two sport utility vehicles on Oct. 4. They left the main road and entered the antelope habitat in the Selincuo national nature reserve, where they pursued and photographed the animals for a period of one minute, according to an investigation.
Their behavior could have interfered with the breeding patterns of the animals and disturbed their habitat. The seven were accused of violating wild animal protection laws and regulations, and each was fined 15,000 yuan. In addition, related management departments were punished for lax regulation.
On Oct. 6 and 7, local forest public security officials and wildlife keepers conducted a detailed investigation of a 300-square-kilometer area around where the offense took place to ensure that no animals were injured.
Tibetan antelopes are one of a number of species under first-class national protection on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. After years of protection, their numbers now exceed 200,000.
