Traditional folk opera teaches villagers to love nature

"The opera's actors portray a judge, two hunters, seven bears, and a dog," said Tsetan, adding the hunters are asked to turn in their weapons, to take vows to stop hunting, and the dogs and bears are told to live harmoniously.

Tsetan said under the deep influence of such an educational opera, and especially governmental efforts for environmental protection, his fellow villagers never hunt or harm wildlife. The natural environment remains healthy and wildlife lives harmoniously in the wild today.

Each member of the village's 52 households benefits from environmental protection policies today and each receives an annual subsidy of 3,500 yuan ($541) for undertaking part-time ecological protection duties.

"We organize villagers to patrol the forest, glaciers and mountains regularly to guard nature and the animals," he said.

According to county government, the county has more than 2,000 glaciers, more than 20 species of wild animals, and more than 60 species of birds.