Beijing:
In an interesting addition to the responsibilities of policemen in China, armed patrols have been ordered to escort sheep after an increase in the number of wolf attacks this winter.
Police in northern China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region have been given the order as increasing attacks have been reported in Xilin Gol prefecture, Xinhua reported.
Local police said wolves there killed more than 1,000 livestock in 2011, resulting in economic losses of nearly one million yuan (about $158,000).
One attack that occurred in December saw a group of four to five wolves breaking into a pen belonging to three families and killing over 230 sheep.
"Wolves only appeared in the remote mountains in the past, but this year they have been coming out a lot, even in densely-populated areas," said local herder Yang Yujun.
Owning a private gun is illegal in China, forcing armed police to escort livestock every day to ensure their safety.
Police have also installed surveillance cameras to stay alert against wolf attacks.