- 3 days ago
Tibetan antelopes pass through the Wudaoliang section of the Qinghai-Tibet Highway on their long migration every year. To ensure the safe passage of these animals, local rangers patrol the road day and night. But apart from looking after the animals, they must also ensure the safety of drivers and tourists. In Sanjiangyuan, rangers are among the many unsung heroes who have made wildlife protection their life-long vocation. In this episode, we take look at the efforts being made to ensure a harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.
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LifestyleTranscript
00:00Transcription by CastingWords
00:30CastingWords
01:00CastingWords
01:30Mount Anyeh Machan is an eastern extension of Central Asia's vast Kunlong range.
01:43The top of its highest peak is 6,282 meters above sea level.
01:49The mountain's roughly 126 square kilometers of glaciers are an important source of water for the Yellow River.
01:56CastingWords
02:08I am the only one who is with the world.
02:13The world is a world of living.
02:19Then, I am the only one who is the only one who is living.
02:24I am the only one who is living.
02:31As climate change and the retreat of glaciers garner more global attention, so too are herdsmen
02:45living at the foot of Mount Anyeh Machan, starting to pay attention to the snow line
02:50and glaciers around them.
02:56SEM TOKI
03:03SEM TOKI x3
03:08SEM TOKI
03:12SEM TOKI
03:14SEM TOKI
03:19Tenzin Dagyeh is leading today's climb, and he is followed by two local herdsmen.
03:48Most of them live in Shui Shan township, at the foot of Mount Anyeh Ma Chen.
03:55They measure the glaciers around their grazing lands from May to October every year.
04:00With their efforts coordinated by the local government, they've been carrying out such
04:04surveys for many years.
04:07The idea that ice and snow are as valuable as gold and silver is deeply rooted in local
04:12herdsmen's hearts.
04:19They do not use their own land.
04:26They do not use their own land.
04:30They are using the land.
04:36Shueshan Township lies in Machin County of Qinghai Province's Golog Tibetan Autonomous
04:56Prefecture.
04:57Every summer, local herdsmen move their cattle and sheep to summer pastures, here at an altitude
05:03of 4,800 meters.
05:06This black tent covered with snow is where Tenzin Dagye's family live in summer.
05:15The water in the brook, beside the pasture, is from snow and ice melting on Mount Angyemachun.
05:22Before taking water, Tenzin Dagye ritually offers it to Buddhas and all living creatures.
05:31The water in the brook.
05:40The water in the brook.
05:46The water in the brook.
05:50The water in the brook.
05:59The water in the brook.
06:02The water in the brook.
06:09The water in the brook.
06:19For Tenzin Dagye's wife, morning is the busiest time of the day.
06:23Today it's the weekend.
06:32Her eldest son, who is attending primary school in the county town, is home.
06:36He's ten years old and can give a hand tending the sheep and cattle.
06:51The people also have a preschool daughter and a baby son.
07:07When his children are home, Tenzin Dagye takes time to tell them about local wild plants, birds
07:12and animals.
07:14Don't ent осв
07:30see for him.
07:35I have a busy Foster.
07:37What is happening here?
07:39I am
07:39getting old men.
07:40OK.
07:41Older villagers often take the children to pray for trees, grass and water, hoping to
07:49teach them the value of protecting and coexisting harmoniously with Mother Nature at their very
07:54young age.
08:11Adults place wool on the grassland beside the brook, hoping their wishes will bloom here
08:23like flowers.
08:41After dinner, Tenzin Dagier prepares the equipment and materials needed for the next day's glacier
09:05survey.
09:08His children gather around him, because they know there are many interesting videos and
09:13pictures on his computer.
10:08They know there are many different animals.
10:15Baatang Township has a population of about 10,000.
10:19Animal husbandry here is the main means of livelihood.
10:23Locals coexist harmoniously with wild animals.
10:26Men and wild species keep a respectful distance from each other most of the time.
10:32Sometimes, however, a Tibetan blue bear will enter the village.
10:48The stray dogs in Xingu village are the first to spot the bear.
10:53The bear's target is this food bucket, filled with scraps for stray animals.
11:08Tibetan blue bears are strong and tough.
11:12They are the most ferocious animals on the plateau.
11:16This one has no reason to fear the dogs.
11:19Embarrassed by their barking, it tries to scare them away.
11:40Tibetan blue bears are primarily carnivorous, although, like this one, they will still eat
11:45wheat-based scraps and leftovers in the bucket.
11:57Sensing the power of the giant animal, the stray dogs keep clear.
12:00The most they can do is bark at it until it has left after eating its fill.
12:16After hearing that a bear came to the village to look for food, the villagers replenished
12:21the food bucket for stray animals.
12:24This, of course, will encourage bears to return.
12:33This sow even comes together with her two cubs.
12:38Bear cubs are usually born in January and February and weaned in June of the same year.
12:44The cubs are frightened by the angry dogs.
12:47They stay close to their mother for protection.
12:54The cubs try to eat from the bucket several times.
12:57But scared by the barking dogs, they have to step back.
13:01Preoccupied with eating, their mother doesn't pay any attention to them.
13:06The cubs haven't eaten much, even when their mother has finished all the food in the bucket
13:12and is about to leave.
13:15The cubs haven't eaten much, even when their mother has finished all the food in the bucket.
13:30San Zheng Yuan means source of three rivers in Chinese.
13:34The area contains the headwaters of three great rivers, the Yangtze, the Yellow and the Lanzang.
13:41Locals here have a culture of protecting wild animals.
13:44Wild animals often enter villages without fear.
13:47Himalayan blue sheep can be seen licking salt from the surface of highways and boundary posts.
13:54Black-necked cranes, bar-headed geese and other waterfowl caught and build their nests near village houses.
14:02In late March, bar-headed geese fly over the Himalayas to return to San Zheng Yuan for the summer.
14:17After courtship, they pair off to build nests and lay eggs.
14:22Their favoured environment for rearing their young is untraversed lakeside ore on cliffs.
14:28These bar-headed geese have built nests on the cliff across the highway from the lake.
14:38The structure of their nests is simple.
14:43This one is in a stone cave, which is perfect shelter from the wind and rain.
14:49Although it is too small to accommodate two adult bar-headed geese.
14:56The female bird will incubate her eggs here.
15:00While she is doing this, the male bird will be on guard to prevent her from being disturbed.
15:11Another couple, meanwhile, has also found its perfect spot.
15:16The female bird is inside incubating her eggs.
15:20The male has to intervene to drive away intruders.
15:30Birds who have arrived late must make do with leftover, less ideal nesting spots.
15:43They turn them from time to time, varying the side that is closest to their body.
15:53warm.
16:03To make sure all the eggs are warmed evenly, they turn them from time to time, varying
16:08the side that is closest to their body.
16:28With their chicks old enough, the family that arrived later has moved out of their nesting
16:32place sometime in May.
16:38This couple have successfully hatched four chicks, and they are now ready to go.
16:50To get to the lake, they must first cross the highway.
17:00The newborns cannot yet fly, they are unsteady on their feet, and vehicles on the road spell
17:06peril.
17:18To get to the lake.
17:30To get to the lake.
17:32To get to the lake.
17:44To get to the lake.
17:57After repeated advances and retreats, the family finally crosses the highway to reach
18:15the lake.
18:16Luckily, there are no big waves in spite of the water's rapid flow.
18:27And there are no predators to threaten them either.
18:34Soon the chicks are comfortable enough in the water to follow their parents away from
18:38the shore.
18:39Highways now connect the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau to the rest of China.
18:50Linking its vast areas of wilderness to civilization.
19:07Modern roads now run through wetlands, grasslands and forests.
19:11It seems as if there are no inaccessible regions in the world anymore.
19:19This is the Wu Daolian section of the Qinghai-Xixan Highway, located in the interior of the north-eastern
19:30plateau region of Hou Xil.
19:34Built in the 1950s, it is a lifeline of material supplies.
19:38Even today, it is still the busiest highway on the plateau.
19:44Wu Daolian is home to many wild animals.
19:51Tibetan antelopes pass through here on their long annual migrations.
19:58Standing by the highway, tourists who are here for the first time are excited to see these
20:02majestic beasts.
20:10Every summer, an important task of the Wu Daolian Conservation Station in Hou Xil is
20:15to teach tourists about its work.
20:19We will have a better life than the U.S.
20:48I'm not going to be able to stop the road.
20:50I'm going to be the first one.
20:51The road two law laws have been established.
20:53If we get to know what we will not have to go to the road.
20:56We will be able to go to the road and get to the road.
20:58I want to go back to your friends.
21:01The road to the road.
21:03We will not have these wrong things.
21:07We will not have the road.
21:09We will not have the road.
21:18In July, the annual breeding season of Tibetan antelopes is nearing its end.
21:30Female antelopes start to leave Zonag Lake with their newborn calves.
21:35During the month, herds of antelopes begin to arrive near Wudaoliang.
21:50To ensure the safe passage of Tibetan antelopes across the Qinghai-Xizang Highway, rangers
21:55of the Wudaoliang Conservation Station patrol the road day and night.
22:08When a herd of antelopes is approaching the road, they will estimate its time of arrival
22:12at the road, then implement temporary traffic control.
22:17Two long lines of vehicles stretch along the Qinghai-Xizang Highway in either direction.
22:32The drivers are waiting patiently as the antelopes move towards the highway, slowly and with
22:38care.
22:39The herd has approached the road many times, only to hesitate and turn back.
23:06Half an hour has passed, but the Tibetan antelopes, which can run at more than 80 km per hour,
23:12have still not crossed the 10 meter wide Qinghai-Xizang Highway.
23:22While the herd is wavering, drivers and tourists start to get agitated.
23:29At an altitude of 4,500 meters, Wudaoliang is considered one of the most difficult sections
23:34of the Qinghai-Xizang Highway.
23:37A lack of oxygen in the air can easily trigger altitude sickness.
23:44For the rangers, the safe migration of Tibetan antelopes needs to be guaranteed.
23:49At the same time, however, the safety of the drivers and tourists cannot be ignored.
23:59After multiple approaches, the leading antelope decides to give it a go.
24:11A few newborn calves then also step onto the asphalt road seemingly in a daze.
24:17Then, the whole herd follows.
24:32The leading antelope, which has managed to cross the road, has for some reason stopped.
24:38This causes the animals that were following to turn around and return to the other side.
24:52The scene is repeated a few times before all the antelopes finally cross the road.
25:22The drivers can now restart their vehicles and continue on to their destinations.
25:27Safely across, meanwhile, the Tibetan antelopes can also continue on their migration journey.
25:37After crossing the Qinghai-Xizang Highway from Wudaolian, one kilometer to the east, the
25:43antelopes arrive at the Wudaoliang North Bridge of the Qinghai-Xizang Railway.
25:49The Qinghai-Xizang Railway is the highest railway in the world.
25:53It's also the longest railway through a permafrost region.
26:00A challenge facing the railway's designers was the need to allow for the crossing of animals.
26:06To this end, a variety of different wildlife crossing passages were built along its route.
26:12Now comes the test to see if the antelope herd will make use of the passage here and cross
26:17under the railway safely.
26:44After initially being intimidated by the roar of the train, the antelopes muster courage.
26:51Finally, the herd of Tibetan antelopes follows their leader to pass under the railway bridge.
27:00Years have passed since the railway was completed, so no doubt the location of the migratory passage
27:06is now imprinted in their memories.
27:25The
27:55We are all travelers, in one way or another, in search of a truth, a light, that will lead us in our quest.
28:14Adventures that will fill our spirit and soul, an exploration beyond what can ever be imagined.
28:25We are all travelers, in one way or another, in one way or another, in one way or another, in one way or another, in one way.
28:45The month of July is high season for wildlife activity in and around the Qinghai Lake, which has a surface area of more than 4,500 square kilometers.
29:11It's a concentrated habitat and breeding ground of water birds.
29:18Every summer, the islands in the lake present a spectacular sight, with countless eggs and nestlings everywhere.
29:27At the mouths of tributaries flowing into the lake, meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of Przewalski's naked carps swim upstream, against the current, to migrate to fresh water and lay their eggs.
29:45And in meadows near the lake shore, the carving seasoner Przewalski's gazelles has also arrived.
30:02This is a rare species that is only found around Qinghai Lake, and its wild population was once less than 300.
30:09Fortunately, more than a decade of unremitting conservation efforts has increased that number to over 3,000.
30:20Wu Yongling, who works at the South Bank Protection Station of Qinghai Lake, has been in his job for two decades, more than enough to witness the change.
30:36When I worked at Qinghai Lake Lake, I completed the traditional human 맛있
31:06On the first day of July, the Forest Public Security Bureau of Haiyang County receives
31:19a call from a villager who has found a newborn Przewalski's gazelle and wishes to transfer
31:25it to a government agency for feeding.
31:28Such occurrences are common during the peak of the Przewalski's gazelle's calving season.
31:58Take care of her.
32:21At less than a week old the gazelle calf is weak and vulnerable. Its mother is missing.
32:51She may have died because of birth complications or perhaps been killed by wolves.
33:21The South Bank Protection Station of Qinghai Lake, where Wu Yonglin works, is the successor
33:32of the original Przewalski's Gazelle Rescue Center. It has a meadow area of about 20 square
33:38kilometers, set aside specifically for the rescue of Przewalski's gazelles. Now there
33:44are more than 70 Przewalski's gazelles here. Some of them were rescued from the wild and
33:50some were born in captivity.
33:53The Przewalski's gazelle is golden color. It was a very good color. It was a very good color.
34:00It was a very good color. It was a very good color.
34:06We have been doing a lot of work from the outside.
34:12We have about 100% of 13 people from the outside.
34:19In the 18th century,
34:21we have been doing a lot of 50 people from the outside.
34:25We have been doing a lot of work from the outside.
34:29This shed in the meadow is where Wu Yonglin lives in summer.
34:39Summer is the Przewalski's gazelle's calving season.
34:43He gets worried that some mothers might be suffering birth complications,
34:47or that foxes might sneak into the protection station
34:50and hurt or kill newly born calves.
34:53So he moved out of the staff dormitory outside the meadow.
34:57Before building his shed,
34:59he used to live in a small tent
35:01to be able to stay in the protection station all the time.
35:17This bag of milk is for Qi Yi.
35:20All gazelle calves rescued from the wild
35:23are artificially fed for about 40 days,
35:25until they can forage for grass on their own.
35:29One of the most important things
35:33is that we live in the outside.
35:35When we live in the outside,
35:37we have eight to nine times.
35:41We have six times,
35:43we have five times,
35:45and we have three to four times.
35:47We have five times,
35:49and we have five times.
35:55Qi Yi has been in the protection station for almost a month.
35:59It's now healthy and lively,
36:01and no longer helpless and vulnerable as it was when it first arrived.
36:05The Przewalski's gazelle with Qi Yi is one year old.
36:09It was rescued and fed by a herdsman for a year,
36:13and was then transferred to the protection station.
36:15Wu Yonglin named it Dong Dong.
36:19We have a countryman named it Dong.
36:25Here, here, here, here.
36:27Here, here.
36:31Here, here...
36:37Here, here, here.
36:39Here, here...
36:41Come on, come on, come on, come on.
36:48Don't worry, too.
36:51I'm not going to eat.
36:59Let's eat.
37:01Let's eat.
37:03Come on, let's eat.
37:05Come on, let's eat.
37:06Come on, come on.
37:07Let's eat.
37:08Come on, come on.
37:10Come on.
37:10After feeding Chiyi milk, Wu Yonglin starts to feed Dong Dong steamed buns.
37:40When the dog is a pet, he has a pet.
37:45He has a pet, he is not afraid to feed him.
37:50This is a pet that is a pet.
37:53It is a pet that is a pet.
37:56He is a pet.
37:59He is very good.
38:04Is it okay?
38:06But they have to be very careful.
38:12We're going to breed the two years later.
38:16We're going to breed the two years later.
38:18Because now they're not different.
38:20The other one will be fighting the two years.
38:24We are going to breed the two years later.
38:26We're going to treat the two years later.
38:28We're going to have our own self-reportal,
38:30and we're going to breed them.
38:36In addition to taking good care of newly arrived calves in the station, Wu Yonglin also has
38:51to supply the station with water.
38:54Especially in winter when rivers freeze, the more than 70 animals in the station rely entirely
38:59on him for this.
39:10Every day when Wu Yonglin patrols, he counts all the Brzozowski's gazelles there and records
39:15their physical characteristics and behavioral changes.
39:22During the calving season in summer, he stays with the does that are waiting to give birth
39:27and prepares to deliver their young.
39:31At this time of year, he stays in the station for two whole months, living on instant noodles.
39:48The former soldier, who once defended his country with his guns, is now the guardian of Brzozowski's
39:54gazelles.
39:55Then he says, I have gotten a lot of questions for me and the other young people.
40:00Every morning I used to meet a list from the
40:23When I was young, I had a lot of fun.
40:26When I was young, I had a lot of fun.
40:31In the next year, I started to graduate school.
40:35With my family, I can't get back home.
40:42I can't get back home.
40:44I can't get back home.
40:49I can't get back home.
40:53But when I got back home, I saw them growing up.
40:57I saw them growing up.
40:59I saw them growing up.
41:01I couldn't get back home.
41:05I couldn't get back home.
41:07My friends would come back home.
41:12The animals are the best of humans.
41:17I don't want to talk to my friends.
41:20I can't get back home.
41:34I can't get back home.
42:08Mola Mountain, to the south of the Kunlun Mountains, is dotted with special landscapes, the alpine wetlands on the Kinghai-Tibet Plateau, Yilong and Jincha rivers carved through the terrain.
42:34In low-lying areas, the rivers created multiple highland lakes and wetlands.
42:46These wetlands scattered over the land of nearly 4,000 meters above sea level.
42:51There are salt lakes of all sizes.
42:58Salt Lake wetlands are valuable resources on the plateau.
43:03Brackish lakeshores have evolved into large wetlands, dominated by cold-resistant and moisture-loving plants.
43:14They are high-quality natural pastures.
43:20This place is full of life.
43:22Lush meadows and marshes offer alpine livestock a perfect habitat.
43:31With the altitude decreases, flat terrain prevails.
43:44The wide Jincha River meanders for 20 kilometers on the Dengma wetland.
43:54The wetland sits about 3,600 meters above sea level in the upper reach of the river.
44:09With the pleasant climate, aquatic plants grow in abundance.
44:21The wild sandthorn forest covers hundreds of hectares.
44:30The vast river valley has become home to many rare species.
44:43Ruddy shell ducks often rest by the lakes.
44:53They feed on the leaves of aquatic plants and grain, as well as shrimp and small fish.
45:09The ice and snow begin to melt in March.
45:13As a migratory species, ruddy shell ducks leave their wintering home and fly over a long distance to the King Hei-Tibet Plateau, where they breed their offspring.
45:31Far-headed geese also live at the Highland Lakes.
45:38They are well adapted to the plateau environment.
45:43During migration, they fly over the Himalaya Mountains, at 7,000 meters above sea level.
45:50As social animals, they prefer resting on the meadow and swimming in the thawing shallow water.
45:56As social animals, they prefer resting on the meadow and swimming in the thawing shallow water.
46:10There are many other residents on the highland wetland, many of them are precious wildlife species.
46:23They are an important part of the wetland ecosystem, maintaining the balance of the entire plateau.
46:31The water temperature drops when winter sets in.
46:45Far-headed geese and ruddy shell ducks are preparing for migration.
46:50Fish in the streams dive deep, hiding in the locked crevices, restoring energy for the next spring.
47:05Fish in the stripes on theof.
47:06Fish in the water.
47:08Fish in the sea.
47:10The
47:35The Rongbouganga mountain is full of steep cliffs.
47:42Some of them stand vertical at almost 90 degrees.
47:51Few animals live here, except the blue sheep
47:55that can sometimes be spotted.
47:57The afternoon sunshine heats up the bare rocks.
48:06A baby blue sheep is practicing climbing with its mother.
48:13The lamb is three months old.
48:18But ten days after birth,
48:22it already followed its parents to climb on the rocks.
48:27Its elder siblings and other blue sheep
48:37are used to leaping between cliffs.
48:44They can jump as long as nearly three meters at a time.
48:48From 10 meters above ground, they land easily without a scratch.
48:57The Qinghai Tibet Plateau has vast forests and shrub pastures.
49:07Blue sheep, however, prefer to live at altitudes
49:11between 2,100 and 6,300 meters on alpine rocky cliffs.
49:20They seldom go below the tree line.
49:28Their main food sources come from the foliage of wormwood and bush sink foil.
49:34They also lick the snow during the cold season.
49:45In winter, their physical energy almost dries up.
49:49This is a crucial season when they have to mate and reproduce.
49:58A lot of energy is required.
50:00Frigid weathers are wearing them down.
50:11In order to survive, for most of the day,
50:14blue sheep try their very best to seek food.
50:25Days of trekking on the rocks have taught them self-protection skills.
50:29When danger approaches,
50:37they can leap quickly between rugged rocks
50:39to escape from the predators.
50:49Although their climbing ability
50:51is among the best of animals.
50:54They still need to practice from time to time.
51:04It is not easy for a lamb to walk on the cliff.
51:06It is not easy for a lamb to walk on the cliff.
51:08The rocks are slippery.
51:14The mother has no intention to help.
51:16They must learn to grow.
51:18If they are going to catch up with their parents
51:27in climbing the mountains,
51:29they have got to get on their feet.
51:39But when they rest in the grass,
51:41the body color resembles that of the rocks,
51:43which often confuse the predators.
51:48This can help them stay safe.
52:04Life is tough.
52:09Day after day,
52:10the youngsters practice amongst the precipitous cliffs.
52:19They still have much to learn to stay alive.
52:22live.
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