The earth is beautiful because of living things,
Biodiversity is rich due to diversity.
In recent years, the mainland has vigorously promoted biodiversity conservation and restoration.
From policy to practice,
A large number of rare and endangered wild animals and plants on the mainland
The habitat and breeding environment has been steadily improved,
More and more rare and endangered species
The population size has grown steadily,
Some species have even gone from "extinct" to "reborn".
Today is the International Day for Biological Diversity,
Let's take stock of these rare species together~
Giant pandas: from "endangered" to "vulnerable"
The flow of "top-stream" giant pandas is not only reflected in the love of the people of the world, but also in its growing population. The data shows that the number of wild giant pandas in the mainland has increased from 1114 in the 80s of the 20th century to 1864 in 2022. In 2016, the IUCN officially downgraded the giant panda's threat level from "endangered" to "vulnerable".
Tibetan antelope: from "endangered" to "ten thousand sheep rushing"
With the increase of ecological protection in the mainland, the number of Tibetan antelope, known as the "highland spirit", has increased significantly. At present, the size of the Tibetan antelope population on the mainland has increased from less than 70,000 in the 80s and 90s of the 20th century to about 300,000. In the Ali Qiangtang grassland, the magnificent scene of "ten thousand sheep rushing together" has reappeared. The Tibetan antelope has also been downgraded from "endangered" to "near endangered".
Crested Ibis: from "7" to "9000",
From "extinction" to "rebirth"
The crested ibis, commonly known as the flamingo crane, is a national first-class key protected wild animal. After the 20th century, the wild population of the crested ibis was on the verge of extinction. In May 1981, experts found seven wild crested ibises in Yang County, Shaanxi Province, in the hinterland of the Qinling Mountains. After more than 40 years of unremitting efforts, the global crested ibis population has expanded from 7 in 1981 to more than 9,000 at present. The crested ibis conservation has also become a model for the world to save endangered species. The threat level of the crested ibis was downgraded from "critically endangered" to "endangered". From "extinction" to "rebirth", from Qinling to the world, the "auspicious bird" soared into the sky again.
Elk: From "disappearing" to "rejuvenating"
Do you know? The elk, known as the "Four Unlikes", disappeared from the mainland for about a hundred years. Until the mid-80s of the 20th century, elk were reintroduced to captivity by the mainland. Since 1985, the number of elk population distribution points has increased from two to 89, and the number of elk has increased from 28 to more than 12,000. Elk conservation is known as China's model for wildlife conservation in the world, and it has also become one of the most successful cases of species reintroduction in the world. In 2006, the elk was officially withdrawn from the Red Book, a list of the world's endangered animals.
Porpoise: frequent appearance in the waters of the Yangtze River
In recent years, finless porpoises have frequently appeared in the waters of the Yangtze River, and they leap above the river with their iconic "smiling faces", playing with birds and fish. According to the 2022 scientific expedition of the Yangtze finless porpoise in the whole basin organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the population of the Yangtze finless porpoise is 1,249. Compared with 1012 head in 2017, it has increased by 23.42% in 5 years, and the average annual growth rate is 4.3%. In 2013, the IUCN Species Survival Commission designated the Yangtze finless porpoise as critically endangered, second only to extinction in the wild. On February 5, 2021, the Yangtze finless porpoise was upgraded from a national second-class protected wildlife to a first-class one.
Yangzi crocodile: from 11 to more than 9,000
Yangtze crocodile is the flagship species of the Yangtze River Basin, which has a history of more than 200 million years, is known as a "living fossil", and is also a national first-class key protected rare wild animal on the mainland. In recent years, the Yangzi crocodile population has been growing. Over the years, the Yangtze Crocodile Provincial Nature Reserve in Changxing, Zhejiang Province has carried out the natural breeding of Yangzi crocodiles by simulating the ecological environment, so that Yangzi crocodiles can fully retain the natural characteristics adapted to nature, and the Yangzi crocodiles here have gradually increased from 11 originally discovered to more than 9,000 now.
Bald Cranes: The return of the cranes has reappeared
The bald crane is a national first-class protected bird and a world endangered crane. Because the bald crane is extremely demanding on the environment, it is an indicator species of ecological environment. In recent years, the number of bald cranes, known as "lovebirds", has increased. According to the data, the current number of bald cranes in the wild is about 10,000. In the autumn of 2022, Jilin Polo Lake National Nature Reserve showed a large number of rare migratory birds to return, including more than 2,300 bald cranes, which is also the largest number of Polo Lake in recorded years.
Asian elephants: The wild population has grown to more than 300
The Asian elephant is assessed as "endangered" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. As a key protected wildlife at the mainland level, Asian elephants are mainly distributed in three prefectures and cities in Yunnan Province, Xishuangbanna, Pu'er and Lincang. Studies have found that the number of Asian elephants on the continent is growing steadily. In the past 30 years, the wild Asian elephant population in Yunnan has grown from about 150 to about 300.
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species divides species into seven levels, from highest to lowest, they are extinct, extinct in the wild, critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable, near threatened, and non-threatened. Among them, critically endangered, endangered and vulnerable species are collectively referred to as threatened species.
Finishing: Li Huiping
Comprehensive Xinhua News Agency, People's Daily, International Forestry and Grassland Administration website, Science and Technology Daily, etc
Source: Economic Information Daily