Mineral extraction halted to save camels

In moves to protect wildlife, more than 130 mining projects in two large nature reserves in northwestern China have been closed, while 15 more have been told to cease operations when their licenses expire.

Western Region Gold Co had two applications for gold and iron exploration in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region rejected on Aug 4 as the land it wanted to explore is in the Lop Nur Wild Camel National Nature Reserve.

The company was also told to halt all exploration activities in the area, and that all future applications will be rejected - in line with a national guideline issued this year that aims to create an ecological "red line" by the end of 2020.