Investigation launched into Chinese netizen's pangolin dinner

A netizen who bragged on China's social media site Weibo that she had dined out on pangolin, an endangered species, is the subject of an investigation by police in Guangdong Province, south China, authorities said Tuesday.

Weibo user "Zhanfangdeduoduo" boasted of her penchant for "delicacies" including pangolin, snake, swan and owl in posts from 2011 and 2012.

Screenshots of the posts were shared by a user who appears to be an employee of the Orient Science and Technology College of Hunan Agricultural University, on Feb. 12.

The screenshots quickly drew attention online and they were deleted by the suspect soon after.

Forest police in Shenzhen city on Monday identified the user by her surname Lin and confirmed that they had taken her in for questioning.

It has been alleged that in another, unrelated, post that went viral on Sina Weibo earlier this month, Guangxi officials allegedly invited investors from Hong Kong for a pangolin reception meal.

The case is still under investigation but has fanned public concerns over the trafficking and trade of pangolins in China.

The pangolin is under second-class state protection in China. It is often smuggled into China because their meat is considered a delicacy and their scales are believed to have medicinal qualities.

The sentence for those who catch, kill, buy or sell state protected animals could be up to 10 years in prison plus fines. Endit