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)