An investigation conducted by the Hoh Xil Nature Reserve
Administration showed that the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, which began
operation on July 1 last year, has not interrupted the migration of
Tibetan antelopes or altered their behavior,
Xinhua News Agency reported on March 19.
Cega, the director of the state-level nature reserve, told a
reporter from Xinhua that Tibetan antelopes have become completely
accustomed to the animal passages built along the Qinghai-Tibet
railway line and their previous migratory routes remain
unchanged.
During the lambing season, crowds of female antelopes passed
through the Qingshui River Bridge, Wubei Bridge and Qumar River
Bridge along the railway to arrive at the Zonag and Sun lakes at
the outskirts of the reserve; they moved back with their kids in
August again via those passages.
Teams monitoring their behavior for the conservation stations in
Budongquan, Suonan Dajie, Wudaoliangzi have found that Tibetan
antelopes are no longer frightened at the sight of human beings and
vehicles. Gradually, they have grown accustomed to the high-speed
trains and more antelopes are now living beside the railway
line.
The 1,142-km Golmud-Lhasa section of the railway is totally
sealed by guardrails to guarantee the safety of antelopes and other
wild animals. In addition, a total of 33 wildlife passages were
built along the railway line to facilitate the movement of wild
animals while migrating and seeking food.
Cega added that anti-poaching efforts have been a great success,
with the number of Tibetan antelopes increasing steadily.
(China.org.cn by Zhang Tingting, March 21, 2007)
