The Public Security Bureau of Dujiangyan, located in Southwest China’s Sichuan Province, announced on Friday that two individuals have been legally handed over for prosecution. They are accused of spreading false information about giant pandas for profit, inciting opposition to international cooperation in panda conservation, defaming organizations, and slandering relevant experts and professionals, according to an official statement published on its WeChat account.
The statement revealed that in March 2024, local authorities received public reports regarding individuals who disseminated rumors about giant pandas through short videos and live streams.
After an investigation, authorities found that, since June 2023, the suspects—a 56-year-old woman surnamed Bai from Xianyang in Northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, and a 40-year-old man surnamed Xu from the same region—had repeatedly fabricated and circulated false information online. They alleged mistreatment of giant pandas Mei Xiang and Tian Tian, which were returned to China from the US in November 2023.
According to the statement, Bai and Xu generated over 30,000 yuan (approximately $4,110) in earnings from live streaming and raised more than 140,000 yuan from followers, amassing a total profit exceeding 170,000 yuan.
In addition to spreading false claims, Bai and Xu damaged the reputations of organizations including the National Forestry and Grassland Administration and the China Giant Panda Conservation and Research Center. They also defamed relevant experts and professionals while encouraging netizens to oppose international collaboration on panda conservation efforts, the statement noted.
As a result of Bai and Xu’s instigation, certain individuals engaged in unlawful actions, including harassment of experts in the field through phone calls, abusive messages, and in-person disruptions. These actions significantly interfered with the experts’ work and personal lives, and they disrupted the operational order of the involved organizations.
The statement also highlighted that some individuals, influenced by Bai and Xu, engaged in illegal activities such as making repeated false complaints to government service hotlines and emergency hotlines. This behavior maliciously consumed public resources and disrupted the normal functioning of emergency services provided by the relevant organizations.
Authorities stated that Bai and Xu’s actions are suspected of violating provisions of China’s criminal law, and they have been formally transferred for prosecution. The case remains under further investigation, according to local police.
