Activists plea for bird trap sales ban (4)

"Most wild birds are protected animals in China, and it is totally illegal to hunt them, but many are being caught to sell on bird markets for admiration or into restaurants," said Zhang.

Some local animal welfare groups who responded to Wang's microblog appeal Monday said they are aware of the issue and also intend to take steps against the trade.

"We are collecting statistics about this bird hunting tool business in China, and looking for cases that prove the trade has put types of wild animals in danger," said Liu Huili, director of the Wild Birds and Animal Office of Nature University, an animal welfare NGO.

"They will go into our open letter to the national forestry bureau, urging the authorities to come up with laws banning the trade," said Liu.

The Ministry of Forestry said on October 22 that it plans to strictly enforce laws against illegal hunting of wild birds and close markets that sell them, but has not mentioned about a ban on hunting tools.

Liu also said she would go to Beidagang Reservoir in Tianjin Tuesday evening to check on the well-being of the surviving storks that were found poisoned by animal volunteers on November 11. If the birds are healthy enough, they will be released, said Liu, adding that Tianjin police are still seeking the suspects involved in the crime.