(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-10-25 21:53

GUILIN -- Police in southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region have arrested a man trying to smuggle 64 bear paws.

The paws, with an estimated total value of 320,000 yuan (US$42,666), were found on October 14, when a Chinese man surnamed Ling was found to be carrying them in a van on the way to neighbouring Hunan Province.

Ling said he had been entrusted by others to transport the paws.

Two of the paws were from Malay bears and the other 62 from black bears, both of which are protected species in China.

Bear's paw is a delicacy in Chinese cuisine and is also used to treat rheumatism in traditional Chinese medicine.