Let's go to Aksay, a beautiful town at the western end of the Hexi Corridor — join the wildlife protection plan!

The biennial "Living Planet Report 2020" released by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF): from 1970 to 2016, the global wildlife population declined by 68% in less than half a century. The Living Planet Index has dropped by more than half on average in less than 50 years. The trajectory of this downward curve seems to coldly point to a disastrous future for humanity on this lonely planet.

This time, Travel Mom personally visited and surveyed the "Aksay Wildlife Protection Plan" and cooperated with multiple nature reserves, dedicated to the protection, conservation, and reintroduction of wildlife.

Aksay: A beautiful town at the western end of the Hexi Corridor

On the 31,000 square kilometers of Aksay County, there are not only beautiful mountains, rivers, grasslands, magnificent plateaus, lakes, wetlands, and vast, boundless deserts and gobi, but also unique and ancient Kazakh folk customs.

The county is home to Gansu Province's largest inland lake — the Sugan Lake Migratory Bird Nature Reserve, the Annanba National Wild Camel Nature Reserve, where dozens of wildlife species inhabit and breed, as well as a wildlife rescue station that has protected 22 species and more than 150 individuals of various wildlife.

Wild yaks, wild camels, Tibetan gazelles, kiang, argali, snow leopards, snow cocks, whooper swans, bar-headed geese, black-necked cranes, swan geese, ruddy shelducks, green-winged teals, and skylarks are among the many wildlife species that inhabit and breed here.

This time, we entered a protected area that is not open to the public. Let's all become little guardians of wildlife together!

First Stop: The Annanba National Wild Camel Nature Reserve Protection Plan

The Bactrian wild camel has become an even rarer wildlife species than the giant panda on Earth, with a global population of about 1,100 to 1,200 individuals, of which 600 to 700 are in China. It is one of the world's extremely rare and endangered ungulate wildlife species, and China lists the Bactrian wild camel as a Class I nationally protected wildlife.

The Annanba Nature Reserve protects one-third of China's wild camel population and its habitat, and is the main habitat and breeding ground for wild camels in China.

Protection Level of Wild Camels

Listed in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN) 2008 ver 3.1 — Critically Endangered (CR).

Listed in the China Species Red List — Endangered (EN).

Listed in the China National Key Protected Animals — Class I.

Listed in the China National Key Protected Wildlife List — Class I.

In February 2021, wild camels appeared in groups in Aksay, and because of their extremely small numbers and group appearances, they were specifically reported by CCTV News. Now we don't have to watch camels through screens; we can see these rare wild camels up close!

Protected Area Management Bureau Science Museum

We observed up close the specimens of endangered and rare wildlife such as wild camels, wild donkeys, and argali, and watched the protected area's science popularization and wildlife protection documentary.

Scouting the surrounding environment — the Annanba River

After a preliminary understanding of the area, we set off on the journey to the reserve. During the nearly two-hour drive, we looked for goitered gazelles and wild camels while listening to the teacher talk about their daily work.

The protectors told us that the environment here was extremely harsh in the past, with arid climate, lack of water, electricity, and even no signal, making it very difficult to contact the outside world once entering the reserve.

On the way to the protection station, we passed a gravel gobi. The teacher specifically stopped the children to inspect an area where there is the Annanba River, which mainly relies on the year-round snowmelt from the Altun Mountains and bedrock fissure water as its water source. This is currently the only available water source in the reserve.

Annanba Wild Camel Reserve Patrol

Upon arriving at the protection station, we found that the small building served all the functions of office and accommodation for the staff. For the children, such an environment was quite rudimentary, but for the staff, everything here was hard-won. In the past, the protection station didn't even have a proper building, and patrols required camping in tents; a single patrol could last from a few days to a week, and roughing it was the norm. Under such difficult conditions, only those who truly loved this wilderness stayed.

The staff at the reserve shared their patrol experiences with everyone. What sounded thrilling to the children was routine for them: in winter, when the temperature at the reserve dropped below minus 30 degrees Celsius, their feet would freeze just from changing a tire. In summer, after two hours of outdoor work, their skin would get sunburned. Being chased by wild animals and bitten by poisonous insects were everyday occurrences.

After sharing their stories, the uncles at the station took the children on an official patrol, showing them how to identify various edible plants, how to distinguish animal droppings, and more.

During this time, we also spotted many wild animals such as goitered gazelles, wild donkeys (kiang), wild hares, and wild camels.

Second Stop: The Small Sugan Lake Migratory Bird Nature Reserve Protection Plan

Located at the southern foot of the Altun Mountains, Sugan Lake is a provincial-level migratory bird nature reserve. Sugan Lake has two lakes, large and small, about 20 kilometers apart. As a plateau lake in the desert gobi of Northwest China, it has become an important breeding ground for many migratory birds and a key stopover for rest and feeding during migration.

Sugan Lake has a rich variety of birds, including common species such as bar-headed geese, ruddy shelducks, common redshanks, gulls, greylag geese, as well as the nationally protected Class I bird black-necked crane, and the extremely rare black stork, also known as the "panda among birds." In recent years, the number of migratory birds at Sugan Lake has been increasing, making understanding and monitoring the species and numbers of birds here significant for the protection of migratory birds and wetlands.

Upon arriving at Small Sugan Lake, everyone was amazed by the beautiful scenery of blue sky, white clouds, and snow-capped mountains surrounding the lake. So beautiful!

After days of seeing deserts and gobi, suddenly seeing such a large lake made us marvel at the wonders of nature.

Under the teacher's guidance, the children learned to identify bird species by observing feathers. They eagerly picked up feathers they found to confirm their judgments.

Most of these children grew up in the warm, humid, evergreen south, accustomed to green mountains and clear waters as well as bustling cities. This place felt like another world. Snow-capped mountains, grasslands, lakes, horses, cattle, sheep... the land was full of romantic and unrestrained elements.

As we ventured deeper into Small Sugan Lake, the migratory birds would sometimes sing with their heads raised, sometimes spread their wings and fly, presenting beautiful scenes.

Third Stop: The Wildlife Rescue Station Protection Plan

Understanding the daily work of the rescue station and animal habits

Under the guidance of the teachers, we visited the wildlife specimen museum.

After the museum, we went to see the rescued animals. As soon as we entered the rescue station, we saw the hard work of the staff. The area was very large, but there were very few people.

To help rescued animals return to their natural habitat, different species were fed on a fixed schedule each week. Herbivores were fed daily.

Carnivores were fed about three times a week to simulate their wild conditions.

The rescue station had over 20 species of wildlife, including wild camels, sika deer, snow leopards, lynx, leopard cats, brown bears, argali, blue sheep, chukar, red deer, ostriches, pigeon hawks, red foxes, sandgrouse, black-necked cranes, and more. We were also lucky to see two newborn sika deer fawns and a lynx that had been raised by a herder since it was a kitten, thinking it was a cat.

Rescue Challenge: Cleaning Enclosures

After getting familiar with the daily routine, it was time for labor. Our task was to help clean the enclosures of the rescued animals. For safety, we mainly cleaned the enclosures of birds and herbivores.

Take a look at our little poop-scoopers at work — very careful and meticulous! They even received collective praise from the teachers at the rescue station!

Fourth Stop: Yearning for the Kumtag Desert

To satisfy our longing for the desert, a desert study trip was arranged. Besides playing, the teachers assigned tasks: learn about desert plants and bring back samples.

The teacher introduced us to the survival wisdom of psammophytes, including the habits of tamarisk, bubble thorn (Nitraria tangutorum), sand rice (Agriophyllum squarrosum), calligonum, and more. Apart from plants, the children were also very curious about small animals in the desert, such as little lizards and dirt cows (likely referring to some insect). They studied with great concentration, undeterred by the scorching sun. Indeed, curiosity conquers all.

We collected many plant specimens.

Besides desert animals and plants, the teacher also taught us useful desert survival tips, such as how to find direction in the wild and how to obtain water in the desert. Another day of learning new knowledge.

Fifth Stop: Charity Sale of Desert White Gold — Camel Milk

Camel milk, a new type of dairy from desert gobi areas, has long been little known. Known as "desert white gold," it has many amazing benefits and is currently a dairy product strongly recommended by the United Nations.

This time, we visited a professional camel factory in Subei County and made handmade camel milk, cow milk cheese, milk candy, and more.

We also held a charity sale of the handmade goodies, and all proceeds were donated to the wild camel reserve.

Here's a summary of all the delicious foods~

Mouth-watering now, I want to eat them.