Wild animal populations increase significantly in Tibetan nature reserve

LHASA -- The population of wild animals in Qiangtang Nature Reserve in Tibet autonomous region has increased dramatically following over two decades of protection, the regional forestry department said Tuesday.

The estimated number of Tibetan antelope has now exceeded 150,000, up from 50,000 when the reserve was set up in 1993. Wild yak now number over 10,000, up from just 7,000 in 1993, and there are more than 50,000 Tibetan wild donkeys, up from 30,000.

The number of snow leopards, argali sheep, and black-necked cranes have also increased, the department said.

With an average altitude of more than 5,000 meters, the state-level nature reserve has an area of 298,000 square km and is a habitat for dozens of wild animals on the state protection list.

In 2015, the regional government earmarked 300 million yuan ($46 million U.S. dollars) to set up 73 protection stations and hire 780 rangers for better daily management across the reserve.