A farmer has been sentenced to 12 and a half years in jail for killing and selling 37 endangered white swans which are under state-level protection.

The sentence was handed down at the People's Court of Lingbao City in Sanmenxia City, central China's Henan Province.

Zhao Naishun, 42, a farmer from Yongji City, northern Shanxi Province, was also ordered to pay a fine of 40,000 yuan (US$5,300).

The court heard that in October and November last year, Zhao used poison to kill 37 white swans on the Yellow River near Sanmenxia and illegally sold them to Zhang Yuelin, a farmer in Lingbao, at a price of 150 yuan (US$20) each.

Zhao disappeared in late December last year and was captured by Sanmenxia police in May. Feathers of white swans were found in his house.

Zhao said he would not lodge an appeal.

Zhang, who was captured by police in December last year, was sentenced at the Lingbao court in May to 13 years in imprisonment and fined 50,000 yuan (US$6,666.7). The court also ordered the confiscation of 3,000 yuan (US$400) of illegal earnings from the sale of the white swans.

(Xinhua News Agency November 6, 2007)