Chinanews.com, February 11th (Wu Jiaju) "I want to cross this desert and find my true self. I only have a camel to accompany me." The vast galaxy." The lyrics in the song "Desert Camel" are a true portrayal of the tenacious vitality of camels.
However, at the end of the last century, the number of wild camels in the world was less than 1,000. In order to protect this critically endangered species, in 2003, in Lop Nur, Xinjiang, China, which is known as the "Ear of the Earth", the Xinjiang Lop Nur Wild Camel National Nature Reserve was officially established. Establish.
Through years of hard work, the population of wild camels in the reserve has grown steadily, reaching three-fifths of the total number of wild camels in the world. When working in the field, the staff can often see active wild camels.
Endangered 'flagship species'
The wild camel is one of the larger mammals in the deserts of the hinterland of Asia. It is known as the flagship species of the desert ecosystem. It can adapt to the extremely arid environment. In order to maintain its life, it will drink even brackish water.
In the world's biodiversity conservation, wild camels occupy an extremely important position and research value.
However, as of the 1990s, there were less than 1,000 wild camels in the world. In 1988, China listed it as a national first-class protected animal. In 2002, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) also listed it as a critically endangered species.
In 2003, with the approval of the State Council, the Lop Nur Wild Camel National Nature Reserve was established, becoming a wild animal nature reserve with wild camels as the main protection object.
The reserve is located in the southeast of Xinjiang, spanning Hami City, Turpan City and Bayingoleng Mongol Autonomous Prefecture in Xinjiang, adjacent to parts of Gansu and Qinghai, with a total area of 61,200 square kilometers.
Lop Nur is known as the "forbidden zone of life". In order to allow wild camels and other endangered species to thrive in Lop Nur, and realize that humans and wild camels live in harmony, what efforts has the reserve made to strengthen its habitat protection?
wild camel.
Photo courtesy
Guard the "Desert Ship"
The research team of the Forest Environmental Protection Institute of the Chinese Academy of Forestry found that the survival and activity behavior of wild camels are mainly affected by human activities.
"There is no problem with the self-reproduction and survivability of wild camels. The best way to protect them is not to disturb them."
Since its establishment, the Nature Reserve Management Bureau has carried out various tasks in terms of scientific research monitoring, patrol supervision, ecological restoration, and popular science education.
In terms of scientific research monitoring, the National Reserve Management Bureau has strengthened cooperation with scientific research institutes, fully utilized modern monitoring methods, and implemented comprehensive monitoring of the spatial distribution pattern and dynamics of the wild camel population in the protected area, as well as the composition and dynamic changes of biodiversity. First-hand scientific information.
At present, an "air-ground integrated" monitoring network system has been established in the reserve. Nearly 100 infrared cameras have been installed in the main activities of wild animals and human activities. Beidou satellite tracking equipment has been installed for 26 wild camels. The migration habits of wild camels have been mastered, and more than 70,000 images of wild animals have been obtained by using camera trap technology.
wild camel.
Photo courtesy
In terms of patrol supervision, the Reserve Management Bureau conducts full-coverage patrols by formulating patrol routes, multi-frequency supervision and law enforcement, and investigates and punishes various violations of laws and regulations.
At the same time, we will strengthen the verification and rectification of remote sensing monitoring points promoted by the "Green Shield" special action, and resolutely crack down on illegal activities such as private digging and illegal mining to prevent a resurgence.
In terms of ecological restoration, the main threats to the survival of wild camels are wolves and drinking water.
Regarding the threat of wolves, the protected area administration insists on the law of natural survival.
As for the problem of drinking water, some artificial intervention measures were taken to divert the mountain stream water with difficulty drinking water to the front of the mountain, so as to ensure the drinking water conditions for wild camels in the area.
In terms of popular science education, the Nature Reserve Administration continues to increase the intensity of popular science education on the protection of wild camels.
For example, in conjunction with Earth Day, International Biodiversity Day, Environment Day and other themed publicity days, a series of popular science publicity and education activities were carried out, and publicity materials, shopping bags and cultural supplies printed with the wild camel logo were distributed.
In addition, the Administration of the Reserve also held popular science lectures on "Wild Camel Protection" in campuses in towns around the Reserve, as well as popular science education activities such as "Wild Camel Protection" in communities, supermarkets, exhibition halls, and science and technology museums.
wild camel.
Photo courtesy
The Gobi Desert is also a mountain of gold and silver
Today, the population of wild camels in the reserve has increased from 440 in the 1990s to about 680, accounting for three-fifths of the world's total wild camels.
The number of wild camel juveniles has increased year by year, the population structure has become more reasonable, and the population has shown a steady growth trend.
When the staff work in the field, they often see wild animals such as wild camels, Tibetan wild donkeys, argali, blue sheep, goose-throated antelopes, and Tarim rabbits.
In October 2020, the staff observed a large herd of more than 100 wild camels at the mouth of the Kumbulakgou at the northern foot of the Altun Mountain.
In the area between the northern foot of the Altun Mountains and the southern edge of the Kumtag Desert, wild camel herds of dozens or dozens of peaks can often be seen.
Among the wild animals frequently photographed by the infrared cameras deployed at the water source of the reserve, wild camels are the most frequently photographed species.
In the arid region of Northwest China, the Gobi Desert is also a mountain of gold and silver. The protection of wild camels protects biodiversity and desert ecosystems.
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