Police in southwest China's Yunnan Province have achieved initial results since beginning their campaign aimed at protecting wild animal resources.

Police already have uncovered 1,325 cases of poaching, arrested 261 suspects, rescued 2,799 wild animals, and seized 6,400 kg of animal-related products and 1,000 furs.

The "No. 2 Southern Operation" was jointly launched by the provinces of Guangdong, Fujian and Yunnan, and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, areas known for their lush vegetation and abundant wildlife.

The 10-day anti-poaching campaign in southern China is aimed at cracking down on the thriving illegal trade in endangered species.

Beginning last Saturday, police, in cooperation with customs, railway, and civil aviation departments, inspected railway and bus stations, airports, border ports, markets, hotels and restaurants searching for protected wild animals. Fifteen restaurants allegedly featuring exotic cuisine also have been punished.

This campaign follows the first, which focused on preventing the poaching of the endangered Tibetan antelope in the Hoh Xil Nature Reserve in far western China, an area spanning parts of Qinghai Province, and the Xinjiang Ugyur and Tibet autonomous regions.

China closed this nature reserve on January 1 to protect this endangered species prized for its fine fur used to make shawls.

Yunnan, known as the "kingdom of animals and plants," has 40 percent of China's wild animals species, and is one of the world's richest areas of diversified animal and plant life.