An investigation has been launched in China to ascertain whether some officials held a banquet where the meat of the endangered pangolin was served. The investigation was initiated after photos of the banquet resurfaced online and caused a huge uproar among Chinese netizens.   

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These photos were taken during the lavish feast that was held in the southern province of Guangxi in 2015. They were uploaded by a Weibo user named Ah_cal in July 2015. However, these photos that clearly showed pangolin meat only started going viral in China only a few days ago.    

The Weibo user alleged that the two senior officials from Guangxi province surnamed as Li and Huang held the banquet for a visiting Hong Kong delegation. He claimed that he was present at the banquet.  

"It was my first time eating it, the taste was very good, and I have already deeply fallen in love with this taste of wildlife (pangolin)," he said in the post.  

Some local news outlets have identified this Weibo user as a Hong Kong businessman who visited Guangxi province to explore business opportunities.  

Meanwhile, Some Chinese netizens claim that the Huang is none other than Huang Wenbiao, the secretary of China's Communist Party from the Guangxi Investment Promotion Agency.

However, the Guangxi Investment Promotion Agency has clarified to Chinese media that none of the people in the pictures posted online were from their agency.

Pangolin is one of the animals on China's list of endangered species and those found guilty of eating its meat can be imprisoned for at least 10 years.

Pangolin is widely considered to be one of the world's most trafficked mammals, making up roughly around 20 percent of all illegal trade in animal species.

TagsPangolin China, Pangolin, china, Guangxi