Located on the north shore of Qinghai Lake, Hargai area of Gangcha County, Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province is a gathering place for Przewalski's gazelle population, and in December 2007, China's first Przewalski's gazelle special protection area was officially established here. This species, which is widely distributed in Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Gansu, Xinjiang, Qinghai and other places, is now only distributed in parts of Qinghai Lake due to human activities and habitat degradation, and the number of individuals in the early 12th century was less than 20.
【Commentary】A flood in 2015 caused more than a dozen Little Przewalski's gazelles to lose their lives, while grieving, Zhou Zengben decided to use his own strength to protect this Qinghai lakeside elf, since 2016, he has successfully rescued more than 50 Przewalski's gazelles and released them, nearly 20 of which were rescued cubs raised and released into nature.
【During the same period】Weekly increase in cost
In mid-July 2015, the Przewalski's antelope was flooded (died), and I looked very sad and bad, and then we started patrolling every year, and we looked at the Przewalski's antelope, and so far there have not been so many injuries (deaths). This Przewalski's antelope has always lived with us, which is very happy for me, the grass is also green in the summer, and there are many Przewalski's antelope, which makes it look very beautiful.
【Commentary】The cubs rescued by Zhou Zengben are often the most difficult to feed, they cannot eat grass on their own like the Dayuan antelope, they will not eat pacifiers, and they must drink milk regularly. Zhou Zengben's wife took on the job of feeding the little gazelles, and she felt that these little antelopes were like her children, and if they could not live healthily, she would be very sad.
【Contemporaneous】Tashi Dolma
We started raising yaks, and there wasn't enough milk [to feed Przewalski], so we switched to Simmental cows. When raising Simmental (cows), there is enough milk, but the little Przewalski's antelope does not drink milk, and it is fed once every half an hour at night, and we are good (happy) when we are fed, and if we do not breastfeed, it (starves) to death, and we are sad in our hearts, and we take care of them like (feeding) children.
In Zhou Zengben's view, the money spent to rescue Przewalski's gazelle in recent years is worth it, and everyone is also very supportive of him. Seeing the Przewalski's antelope increasing day by day, and the population growing day by day, Zhou Zengben was sincerely happy.
【During the same period】Weekly increase in cost
I was especially happy to rescue the Przewalski's antelope during the 8 years, including the wounds on the net fence and the mother's care (Przewalski's antelope), I am very grateful to my family, and I am very happy that the Przewalski's antelope (more and more), which is a particularly beautiful animal in our village.
【Commentary】At present, with the efforts of local officials and civil society for more than ten years, the wild population of Przewalski's gazelle has recovered from less than 300 at the beginning of monitoring to more than 3000,<>, and the people around the lake have formed a great love spirit for the protection of wild animals.
Yan Yinli, deputy director of the Gangcha County Natural Resources and Forestry and Grassland Bureau
Through the government's propaganda in recent years and the changes in the people's thinking, our masses have basically formed a spirit of great love. Through the efforts of our government and people from all walks of life in recent years, our Przewalski's antelope from the beginning of the establishment of the protection station more than 300, now has reached more than 2022 in 3200, we (Gangcha) is now also known as the hometown of Przewalski's gazelles, why is it called the hometown of Przewalski's gazelles? It is an area where the population is more concentrated in the area around Qinghai Lake.
Reporting by reporters Qi Miao and Li Jun in Qinghai
Responsible Editor: [Zhou Chi]