A flock of Tibetan antelopes are about to cross the Qinghai-Tibet Highway when suddenly a car blares its horn and whizzes past. The young antelopes are frightened and scamper back.

"An increase in tourists to Tibet poses a threat to the migration of Tibetan antelopes,"　said Cega, head of the management bureau of the Hoh Xil Nature Reserve.

There are no figures as to how many antelopes have been killed this year, but 11 were killed in 2005.

Cega noted that construction of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway has helped promote Tibet as a tourism destination and subsequently traffic on the highway has boomed quickly.

According to the Qinghai-Tibet Highway Management Bureau, traffic flow on the highway had reached 4,000 per day by the end of 2005, 40 to 50 percent up on the figure of 2002.

Each year, over 3,500 antelopes cross the highway to the hinterland of Hoh Xil to litter and return with their kids during peak tourist period.

Measures have been taken to protect the migrating animal. Staff with the management bureau and conservationists patrol the highway and stop vehicles when flocks of Tibetan antelopes are about to cross.

But Cega believes it is more important to enhance people's awareness of environmental protection and let them know more about Tibetan antelopes.

There are about 56,000 Tibetan antelopes in Hoh Xil, according to local sources.

(Xinhua News Agency August 19, 2006)