Forestry law-enforcement officers in south China's Guangdong Province confiscated 30,335 head of wildlife in a province-wide special operation launched to protect wild animals and prevent transmission of diseases between human beings and animals.

During the operation, dubbed "green sword", officers searched 991 markets and 6,617 hotels and restaurants, and inspected motor vehicles used for trafficking wildlife.

Among the seized wildlife, 15 were classified as protected. Some of the confiscated animals were already dead.

Officers also seized 43,405 kg of wildlife products, withdrew 2,197 permits for trading or consumption of wildlife, detained two suspects, and seized a number of hunting tools and vehicles used for wildlife trafficking.

The consumption of exotic species of animal is traditional and widespread in Guangdong, one of the areas worst hit by severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

On April 2, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued an advisory against travel to Guangdong, which was lifted on May 23.

Earlier reports said scientists in China had traced a virus similar to SARS to the civet cat and the raccoon, both of which are found living wild in Guangdong and other parts of China.

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