HOHHOT, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Three suspects have been arrested for poisoning and hunting 4,484 wild birds in Xilingol League in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, local forest police said Friday.

On Jan. 16, police found 870 dead larks on a grassland in East Ujimqin Banner, according to Zhang Jie, forest police chief in the banner.

Larks are under national-level protection in China.

After 10 days of investigations, police caught a suspect surnamed Wang on Jan. 31 when he returned to the same area to hunt more birds.

Another two suspects were caught in Songyuan in the northeast China's Jilin Province on Feb. 3.

Police found 3,614 more dead birds near the grassland in March. They believe the birds had been hidden under snow.

The suspects used poisoned bait to hunt the birds and planned to sell them to restaurants, according Zhang.

The case is under further investigation.

According to China's wildlife protection law, those who hunt, sell, purchase or transport wild animals that are under special state protection will be punished.