Three independent Tibetan antelope protection associations in west
China's
Xinjiang
Uygur Autonomous Region,
Tibet
Autonomous Region, and
Qinghai
Province are striving to reach a cooperative approach on
protecting Tibetan antelopes. They will also collaborate on
scientific research and functional construction and promotion of
reservations, in a bid to better protect one of the world's most
endangered animals.
The Altun Mountain Reserve of Xinjiang, Qinghai's Hoh Xil Reserve,
and Qiangtang Reserve are three main ranges supporting Tibetan
antelope populations. The three reserves are connected, occupying a
total area of more than 600,000 square km.
Tibetan antelopes, a species particular to China, inhabit the
mainly de-populated zones of the Qinghai, Tibet and Xinjiang
plateau. The antelopes are safeguarded under the state's
highest-level of protection, and have also been listed by the
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild
Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Due to rampant poaching, the total number of Tibetan antelopes has
declined dramatically from several million earlier last century to
around just 70,000 at present.
As
early as April 1999, China's State Forestry Administration
organized the three provinces of Xinjiang, Qinghai and Tibet to
join forces in an effort to launch a "No.1 Hoh Xil Action" program,
aimed at bringing an end to the poaching of Tibetan antelopes. As a
result of the program, poaching activities have been curbed to some
extent.
"The three provinces will combine their efforts in not only
targeting poachers, but also in the promotion of information,
communication, and scientific research," said Li Weidong, chief of
the administrative department of Altun Mountain Reserve of
Xinjiang.
As
the three reserves are connected to each other, the Tibetan
antelopes, lambing near the Muztag Mountain of Xinjiang, come from
both the Altun Reserve and Qiangtang Reserve. It is thought that
the Tibetan antelopes in each reserve are not bound to any
particular clan or domain, and are therefore likely to roam freely
throughout the three reservations.
"Therefore, it's necessary for the administrative agencies of three
reserves to join their efforts," said Li Weidong, adding that
"Tibetan antelopes, as well as poachers, are not concerned with
provincial boundaries."
The female Tibetan antelope has an unusual habit of congregating in
large numbers during mating season. They then go to regular places
and breed together. According to current survey results, the foot
of Muztag Mountain in Xinjiang, the Zhuonai Lake area in Qinghai,
and Taiyang Lake area in Tibet are the major lambing locations for
female Tibetan antelopes.
Vice-director of the State Environmental Protection
Administration's Protective Department of Natural Ecology Wang
Dehui said, "Cooperation between the three reserves will boost
research on the Tibetan antelopes' living and breeding habits, as
well as the preservation of their habitat."
Li
Weidong added that the administrative associations of the three
reserves will enhance the communication of information related to
Tibetan antelopes by way of the Internet and other communications
media, and carry out combined law enforcement to patrol the
increasing number of illegal activities directed at animals.
(china.org.cn translated by Zhang Tingting, October 31, 2002)