This footage shows cheering people in a car chasing after a herd of endangered gazelles which ended with two of the animals dead.
The clip caused uproar on social media site Sina Weibo – often dubbed Chinese Twitter – after it was circulated on 12th September, with rumours claiming the scenes took place in the plains of Tibet in south-western China.
Video credit: AsiaWire
However, the Tibet Forestry Bureau claimed the incident likely happened within the territory of China’s northern neighbour Mongolia as the vehicles used carry Mongolian plates.
In the video, a person can be heard excitedly shouting as they chase after a herd of over a dozen protected Mongolian gazelle (Procapra gutturosa) on a grassy steppe.
Other footage reportedly shot by the same people shows two dead gazelle which are bleeding from the mouth. it is unclear how they were killed and none of the men appeared to be carrying guns.
In the footage a person can be heard saying in Mandarin: “Rest in peace. Very sorry.”
As he pans the camera around to reveal at least six or seven of his friends and a total of three 4WD vehicles, he adds: “This place is f*cking beautiful.”
Tibet authorities noted that the animals seen in the video are Mongolian gazelle, which belong to a Class II state-protected species in mainland China.
Social media users had previously misidentified them as Tibetan antelope, or chiru, who have a Class I conservation title.
The forestry bureau has vowed to investigate the incident allegedly as it is involving several Chinese nationals, but it is unclear whether its jurisdiction extends across the border into Mongolia.
Mongolian gazelle are legal to hunt in Mongolia with a permit issued by the Mongolian Ministry of Environment and Tourism.
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Story By: John Feng, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Asia Wire Report
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