Three Chinese men were sentenced to prison for catching wild wood thrushes by using pet thrushes to lure them, according to a local court in southwest China's Guizhou Province.p They were given prison sentences ranging from six to seven months, and fined 3,000 yuan (around 435 U.S. dollars) each, said the court of Yanhe Tujia Autonomous County.

In February, they set up nets in the Mayanghe national nature reserve and placed three pet thrushes nearby. The chirps of the pet birds attracted their wild counterparts, allowing the poachers to trap eight wild wood thrushes, the court said.

As one of the most melodious songbirds in the world, wild wood thrushes are listed under the protection of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

Those who poach, kill, purchase, transport or sell endangered wildlife under state protection in China face up to five years in prison.

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