Pangolins, Asian giant turtles and lizards were found crushed inside crates on a wooden vessel that had lost engine power off Qingzhou Island, Guangdong province.
Most were alive, though reports said the cargo also contained 21 bear paws wrapped in newspaper.
The haul was discovered on one of the world’s most lucrative and destructive smuggling routes: from the threatened jungles of south-east Asia to the restaurant tables of southern China, the Guardian reported, citing wildlife groups.
The animals, which weighed 13 tonnes, were taken to port, doused with water and sent to an animal welfare centre.
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