THE city’s inspection and quarantine bureau recently intercepted three batches of live stag beetles in EMS parcels mailed from Japan, the Shenzhen Evening News reported Thursday.

The 23 beetles were all packed in independent plastic containers with small holes in the lid. There was also paper and feed inside to ensure the beetles could survive the long-distance transport.

Following investigation, the beetles were found to have been mailed by the same shipper in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. The bureau carried out radiation detection on the beetles and disposed of them, because the owner did not go through the examination and approval procedures, and Chiba Prefecture is one of the areas affected by the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear crisis.

In recent years, as the domestic pet market has been booming, illegal imports of all kinds of live animals and pets by mail have also been rising, according to the bureau.

Imported live insects, which lack quarantine examination procedures, may carry parasites, viruses and bacteria that are harmful to human health, as their sources, varieties and health status are unknown, bureau officials said.

Related regulations also make clear that live animals are prohibited from being imported into the country by mail.

(Zhang Yu)