Beijing: People eating rare wild animals in China will be jailed for up to 10 years.
Those who knowingly buy wild animals illegally hunted could also face a sentence of up to three years.
There are 420 species of animals considered endangered by the government, including giant pandas, Asian black bears and Pangolins.
The practice of eating wild animals or their products has fueled poaching are punishable.
According to the Xinhua news agency, many buyers of rare animals were walking away unpunished.
Lang Sheng, the deputy head of the legislative affairs commission in China said that the buyers of animals are found to be the major motivator of large-scale illegal hunting.
Those who eat either rare animals or their products in China and other parts of Asia believe that the practice will help to strengthen the body or ease symptoms of illnesses.
The rules came into force as a new interpretation of the Chinese criminal law which was approved by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress.

Video on endangered wild animals in China