The infrared camera previously placed at the end of Qilian Mountain by Aksai County Natural Resources Bureau of Gansu Province and WWF was recovered recently, and the precious picture of four snow leopards in the same frame was taken for the first time. The person in charge of the snow leopard project of WWF said that this is the first time to take the largest number of snow leopards in the same frame outside the reserve.
Four snow leopards were photographed in the same frame. Video screenshot
On February 28, the staff of forestry ecology workstation of Aksai County Natural Resources Bureau recovered some infrared cameras set up in cooperation with the World Wide Fund for nature (WWF) at the Qilian mountain area with an altitude of more than 3000 meters in Aksai county at the end of 2019. According to reports, a large number of pictures of wildlife activities were taken in the recovered camera, and a picture of four snow leopards at night attracted attention. The camera captured a total of four images, which were taken in October 2019.
Among them, a female snow leopard with three cubs can be clearly seen at night. Experts speculated from the cub's size that it was a little snow leopard born that year, less than half a year old. In terms of the habits of the snow leopard, the cubs usually learn the necessary survival skills with their mother. During the age of 19-22 months, the little snow leopard leaves his mother and starts a new independent life.
Zhang Changzhi, an expert of the snow leopard project of the World Wide Fund for nature, introduced that this is an infrared camera placed at the end of the Qilian Mountains. 'this discovery is of great significance. This area is the connection between the Qilian Mountains and the Altun Mountains, and it is also an important corridor between the snow leopard habitats. This discovery can preliminarily prove that there are fertile snow leopards in this area, and the snow leopards between the two mountains may also be connected. "
Zhang Changzhi said that this is the largest number of snow leopards found in the same lens outside the reserve in Gansu Province. " The discovery of wild animal populations outside the reserve can prove that the current ecological environment is more suitable for animal survival and ensure the long-term survival of this species. "
Li Zhilong, a forestry Engineer at the forestry ecology workstation of Aksai County Natural Resources Bureau, believes that the frequent activities of wild animals in Aksai county are inseparable from the continuous increase of ecological protection in Aksai County in recent years. 'we will strengthen ecological environment treatment and wildlife protection through the implementation of grazing prohibition and rest, grassland reward and subsidy, and the strict implementation of the pilot work of Qilian Mountain National Park system, In recent years, we can also feel the continuous improvement of the ecological environment in Aksai, and the number of wild animal populations is also increasing year by year. "
It is reported that the recycled infrared camera not only photographed four snow leopards in the same frame, but also photographed many national key wild animals. Zhang Changzhi said: 'a large number of rare animals such as lynx, wolf, red fox and argali sheep were also found in other infrared cameras recovered in the same period, which shows that this area has high protection value. It also provides some ideas for our next conservation work, such as strengthening the management of this area, establishing a conservation community, or how to protect the snow leopard in normal animal husbandry activities and realize the harmonious coexistence of human and wild animals. "
Source: Beijing News