Yikes! A Chinese food blogger has been fined nearly $20,000 after getting busted illegally buying, grilling and eating a great white shark — which is currently an endangered species. The blogger, known as Tizi in her videos, has been identified by officials only as Jin.
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Chinese Food Blogger Fined $18.5K For Grilling & Eating Great White Shark
Officials, in the southwestern Chinese province of Sichuan, say Jin broke wildlife protection laws in China after she illegally purchased and consumed the shark back in April 2022.
Jin is well known in the influencer community as a mukbanger, filming and taking part in extreme-eating challenges. Jin has previously eaten ostriches and crocodiles, and filmed and posted her meals on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok. It is reported that Jin paid about $1,141 USD (7,700 yuan) to purchase the great white shark on Alibaba’s Taobao shopping platform.
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The influencer then went on to post videos on Douyin and Kuaishou, the latter which is another video-sharing platform. In Jin’s viral videos, she is seen buying a nearly 6.6-foot shark from a store, butchering the animal, then cooking it and eating it.
Jin’s videos not only went viral, but caught major backlash, as again, the great white sharks are legally protected in China and possession and trading of the wildlife is illegal. It is reported that unlawful possession and trading of wildlife products in China may lead to fines or even time spent in prison.
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After Jin posted her videos back in April 2022, authorities in Sichuan Province eventually launched an investigation in August. At the time of the investigation launch, Jin claimed that she had purchased the endangered shark legally, and that she is actively seeking an attorney for representation.
Since, Jin has been fined $18,500 for buying, cooking and eating the shark Meanwhile, two other people who were allegedly involved in baiting and selling the shark have since been arrested.
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