In December 2014, three men were tried for killing a giant panda. Two Chinese brothers mistakenly killed a giant panda, thinking it was a bear, ate part of it, and sold 35 kilograms of meat and paws to a trafficker, sparking the first panda murder trial in recent Chinese history. Yunnan police seized the skin, skull, meat, and rifle, confirming the identity of the adult female with DNA testing. The case, which emerged in 2015, shocked Chinese and international public opinion, highlighting the effectiveness of strict laws against poaching this protected species.
Three men tried for killing and selling panda meat, background: sheep killed and trap
The drama begins in Longtai Village, Zhaotong (Yunnan, near Sichuan), when brothers Wang Wenlin and Wang Wencai discover sheep mauled by a predator. They set a trap but find it broken. They follow footprints with their dog to a tree where they spot a "large animal." Wang Wenlin fires two shots: the female panda falls to her death.
- Date: December 4, 2014.
- Location: Forest near Zhaotong, Yunnan Province.
- Discovery: only after slaughtering it do they realize it is a giant panda.
The slaughter and sale of meat
The brothers consumed some of the meat, saved the rest, and sold the remainder (35 kg total + four legs) to Li Kequan for 4,800 yuan (about $773). Li resold portions to others, sparking the illegal trade. The panda was an adult female, slaughtered along with parts such as the skull and gall bladder.
| Parts sold | Amount | Price | Buyer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meat | 35 kg | 4,800 yuan | Li Kequan |
| Paws (4) | – | Included | Li Kequan |
| Skin/skull | Seized | – | Police raid |
Police investigations and seizures
In December 2014, Yunnan Forestry Police raided the Wang brothers' home, seizing the panda skin, a skull fragment, 10 kg of meat, the gall bladder, and the hunting rifle. Ten suspects were initially arrested, seven of them for attempting to sell the skin and 8 kg of meat in Sichuan. DNA tests confirmed that the meat belonged to a giant panda.
- Raid: Longtai Village house, Zhaotong.
- Evidence: hair, bones, gun, DNA.
- Confessions: Wang Brothers Admit 'Mistake.”.
The three defendants and the trial
The three men on trial were Wang Wenlin and Wang Wencai, the brothers who killed the panda, and Li Kequan, the buyer and trafficker. In September 2015, the Yunnan court concluded its investigation and indicted the defendants. The photo of the skin, published by China Daily, sparked a wave of outrage on Chinese social media.
- Wang Wenlin/Wang Wencai: Shooters believe it was a bear.
- Li Kequan: buys and resells meat/trotters.
- 7 more: released or not charged.
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Legal penalties provided
Killing a giant panda, a category I protected species, carries a minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, up to life imprisonment, or the death penalty in cases of "particularly grave circumstances," as provided for by the 1987 Criminal Law. The sale of its parts carries the same penalties, accompanied by confiscation of assets. This is the first significant media case since the introduction of the more stringent laws.
- Basis: Wildlife Protection Law 1988.
- Risk: more than 10 years/life imprisonment.
- Precedents: Very rare panda trials.
Reactions and media impact
The case of the three men on trial for killing a giant panda exploded in Chinese state media outlets like Xinhua and CCTV, as well as international outlets like the BBC and CNN, generating a strong social media outcry in China over the attack on the "national treasure." This episode strengthened anti-poaching enforcement, raising public awareness of strict laws and the need for conservation.
- China: “Revulsion” over skin photos.
- World: BBC/CNN coverage of harsh sentences.
- Lesson: “Mistakes” do not justify crimes.
Lessons for panda conservation
The case highlights the vulnerability of wild giant pandas, estimated to number between 1,800 and 1,900, together with the effectiveness of forest police and the deterrent power of Chinese laws. This indirectly contributed to the IUCN downgrading from “Endangered” to “Vulnerable” occurred after 2016.
Legacy: symbol of the fight against trafficking and wildlife.
Enforcement: Quick Raids and DNA.
Prevention: rural anti-poaching education.
But how could anyone not have noticed that it was a giant panda?
The question arises: how could they not have noticed it was a giant panda? In any case, the Wang brothers failed to recognize the giant panda primarily because they saw it in a dense forest, injured and perched high in a tree, initially mistaking it for a more common Asiatic black bear.
Environmental and visual conditions
In December 2014, in Zhaotong (Yunnan), farmers Wang Wenlin and Wang Wencai were chasing a predator that had killed their sheep, following tracks to a tree in a remote, wooded area. The adult female panda was hidden among the branches, and from above, it appeared to be a "large animal" resembling a bear, a species common in that area despite pandas not having been sighted there for centuries. Poor visibility, the panda's unusual posture, and the lack of direct experience with wild pandas made the mistake plausible.
Physical similarities to bears
Giant pandas are bears (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), with black-and-white camouflage fur but a body structure similar to Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus), more common in Yunnan. From a distance or in motion, the distinctive facial pattern ("panda eyes") is not immediately visible, especially if the animal is injured or climbing. The brothers confessed to identifying it as a bear only after they had shot and butchered it.
Social and cultural context
In poor rural areas like Longtai Village, locals have little contact with pandas, a national icon but rare in the wild (population ~1,800 in 2015). Police confirmed:
“Only after they shot did they realize it was a panda.”.
Similar cases show confusion between species, aggravated by traps for other animals.