21 fetuses and bodies of babies were found discarded in a river in China.

As many as 21 fetuses and bodies of babies, some with hospital tabs, were found discarded in a river in east China's Jining city.

Reports suggest most of the dead babies were female who had been dumped because parents wanted to keep the option open for a male child within the one-child system.

The actual number dumped in the water may be much larger. The Jining Municipal Health Bureau has offered a public apology for ineffective supervision.

Chinese newspapers quoted several health experts and university professors to suggest that the bodies belonged to babies that had died for natural reasons and had not been dumped when they were alive.

According to China Daily, eight of dead babies had labels attached to their feet with information saying they had been treated and declared dead in two local hospitals.

No clues were found on the remaining bodies.