A man in Wuchuan, Guangdong province, has been detained by police for the illegal slaughter of a pangolin and illegal purchases of geckos, Guangzhou Daily reported on Thursday.

Police caught the man surnamed Liang, 51, on June 12 after receiving a tip that Liang was slaughtering a pangolin at his home.

Police recovered 80 dead geckos and 310 dead birds from one of Liang's rooms.

Liang told police that two people came to his house and asked him to slaughter the pangolin for them. The geckos were bought for his father to use as medicine.

Police detained Liang for the illegal slaughter and purchase of endangered wildlife. The case is still under investigation.