(File photo: chinadaily.com.cn)

HEFEI, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Five suspects have been arrested for illegally hunting wild birds in east China's Anhui Province, local forest police said Friday.

The forest public security bureau of Huaining County, in the city of Anqing, said they received reports that some people installed nets on a mountain. The police investigated and found several thousand captive live birds.

On Oct. 30, the police arrested five suspects and found another 5,000 dead birds in a refrigerator and a number of hunting tools.

The suspects have already sold at least 5,000 birds, according to their sales record.

An investigation into the case is underway.