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East China seizes giant beetles in mail

Xinhua, December 31, 2016 Adjust font size:

Authorities in Hangzhou city in eastern China's Zhejiang Province have seized three Hercules beetles, one of the largest beetles species, in a parcel sent from Japan.

Staff with the Hangzhou mail inspection office said they discovered three plastic boxes in a parcel, and in each box there was one live Hercules beetle with a wingspan of about 15 centimeters.

The beetles, believed to be bought as pets, were disposed of.

Importing live animals, via luggage or mail, is banned in China, though customs continue to intercept and seize a range of animals, including scorpions, snakes and poisonous frogs.

In 2016, Hangzhou mail inspection authorities seized a total of 229 heads of animal, including snakes, spiders and centipedes. Endi