Rescuers fight tooth and claw to protect animals

XINING — In a wildlife rescue and breeding center under the administration of Qilian Mountain National Park, a desert cat squats in front of its den, basking lazily in the sun, while a large vulture stands on a nearby pier and storks flap their wings vigorously.

The center is located at the foot of the Qilian Mountains in Qilian county, which is located in the Haibei Tibetan autonomous prefecture in Qinghai province. Located at an altitude of nearly 3,000 meters, the annual average temperature here is only 1 C, typical of the continental plateau climate.

Zhang Yuzhen, who graduated from Qinghai University last year with a degree in animal medicine, gave up the chance to remain in Xining, the provincial capital, and chose to work at the newly built center.

"Some animals come to the center after they have been separated from their herds. They are so young that we have to feed them milk, and that's why they are not afraid of people," she said.

"The vulture was rescued on June 22 this year. It was infested with parasites, which caused its flight feathers to fall out, and it was unable to fly on its own."

Since the bird's arrival, workers at the rescue center have cleaned and disinfected its wounds, applied insect repellent and fed it nutritious meals every day.

"Now the vulture is more than 1 meter tall, its flight feathers have almost completely regrown and it is in good health. It eats a leg of lamb every two days," Zhang said. "We are waiting for an opportunity to release it."

Up until now, the rescue center has received 34 isolated or injured wild animals, among which 26 were classified under either the first or second level of State protection. Seven have since been successfully released, including one classified under the first level and four under the second.

Some of the animals remain at the center temporarily. After recovering their ability to survive independently in the wild, they are released.

Some do not meet the conditions necessary for release due to their injuries or illness and end up staying at the center for a long time.

Covering an area of about 3,679 square meters, the center is just one of a number on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau to offer comprehensive service, advanced equipment and a useful rescue service. It is home to four rescue workers, all of whom were born in the 1990s.

The pilot zone for Qilian Mountain National Park covers 50,200 square kilometers, of which the section in Qinghai covers 15,800 sq km.

According to a survey, there are 280 species of wild vertebrates and 522 species of wild invertebrates in the Qinghai section of the park.

"The Qilian Mountains are rich in animal and plant resources, which are a precious heritage. At the same time, there are many endangered and rare wild animals in need of rescue. I want to use my knowledge to build a welcoming home for them," Zhang said.

Xinhua