Shanghai authorities have vowed to step up protection for wild animals and take measures to boost animal welfare, said Jiao Yang, spokesperson of the Shanghai municipal government.

Jiao said the municipal government had long been engaged in the monitoring and restoration of animal habitats. By enhancing cooperation with NGOs, it would raise the public awareness of animal protection.

Jiao was speaking in response to the cancellation of the controversial "Animal Olympics" by a Shanghai Zoo after animal rights groups protested, calling the event degrading.

The authorities dispatched a task force to investigate the event and ordered the zoo to cancel activities like animal boxing that would harm the animals or infringe upon their walfare.

(Xinhua News Agency November 28, 2006)