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By Li Lianxing (China Daily) Updated: 2013-03-15 11:10

Since then, many international foundations have played a crucial role by offering special funds for wildlife conservation in China, Xie adds.

"But there are cases indicating that some Chinese people have threatened African wildlife, especially elephants," he says.

"So public awareness on this must be strengthened and regulations should be made regarding wildlife protection among Chinese people and Chinese companies working in Africa, to make all efforts to minimize the harm to African fauna."

Indeed, China has made significant progress since it joined the international campaign for wildlife conservation, says the CITES secretary-general, John Scanlon.

"China has been serious and strengthening its law regulations and enforcement on illegal wildlife products trade," he says. "In terms of enforcement, it has scaled up significantly and coordinated with different disciplines, including police, customs and forest inspectors."

But there is still an urgent need for the Chinese government to create more public awareness on wildlife protection, he adds.

"To raise awareness, I think the best way is to work with the Chinese people. Because they know the culture, they know the best way to communicate."

Douglas-Hamilton agrees that China has gained valuable experience from its own conservation projects that can be shared with the international community, such as the work in setting up wild elephant reserves in Xishuangbanna, in southwestern China's Yunnan province.

According to the Forestry Public Security authority in Xishuangbanna, one of the most important aspects to the success of the elephant reserve is local residents' awareness of the need to protect the animals and their key role in anti-poaching campaigns.

Local authorities have also been trying to extend habitation areas for wild elephants by reducing banana and sugarcane plantations, and contact between humans and elephants.

There is also growing interest in Xishuangbanna helping with the African elephant conservation programs, say local officials.

"Many local researchers and workers are keen on being part of the conservancy programs and on going to Africa. Some are interested in staying there on a permanent basis," says one official.

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On patrol, Zhuo Qiang from China, alias Simba, points out the lions' habitat in Masai Mara, which he has made his mission to protect. Photos by Xie Songxin / China Daily

Chinese Simba

If such were the case, one of these Yunnan carers may become to the African elephant what Zhuo Qiang is to the lion.

"I flipped over Africa and the wildlife, especially the lions, on a trip in 2004. It was love at first sight," says 40-year-old Zhuo, from Chongqing. "But it was extremely difficult for me, an ordinary person, to make the decision and come to live in Africa."

Zhuo, who is known as Simba ("lion" in Swahili), established the Mara Conservation Fund and his own patrol team in 2011 to protect lions and other wildlife in Kenya's Masai Mara nature reserve.

In China, he had a good job in government, a happy family and more stability than many of his peers.

"Giving up all those things appeared insane to my parents and my wife. It was difficult for them to understand how important it is and how much it means to me to help protect the wildlife," he says. "I even asked myself many times if I really should do this."

He says Chinese wildlife and animal protection naturally focuses more on issues in China, such as the trade in bears' gall bladders and tiger bone for traditional medicine, the conservation of pandas and cruelty to domestic pets.

Many thought there were plenty of wildlife problems to be addressed in China, without Zhuo having to go to Africa.

However, he has now settled in the Olkinyei conservation area in the Masai Mara. He relies on his savings and occasional donations to run his protection team, mainly staffed by local people.