Hunan province has taken strong measures to protect migrant birds after police arrested eight people suspected of killing and selling the animals, voc.com.cn reported on Thursday.

Several of the killings were reported in September and October, when migrant birds fly south for winter and travel over the province.

As of Wednesday, the provincial forest police had cracked nine bird-killing cases and saved 1,260 birds. Eight suspected of killing and selling the birds were arrested, and 251 hunting tools were seized.

The forest police on Wednesday released a hotline and said it will pay a reward of up to 5,000 yuan ($801) to people who provide information about illegal bird killing and selling.