From 2003 when he was a graduate student, Da Niu began to investigate grassland ungulates such as Tibetan antelopes, Tibetan wild asses and wild yaks in Qiangtang, Tibet, focusing on the competition and coexistence between wild ungulates and domestic ungulates, and from 2011 to 2016, he went to Sanjiangyuan, Qinghai Province to participate in the work of brown bears and snow leopards, focusing on the conflict between brown bears and herders, and the protection of snow leopards. Since 2017, we have been commissioned by Qilian Mountain National Park to carry out background surveys of five species of cats, including snow leopards, lynxes, desert cats, rabbits and leopard cats, as well as jackals.
Whether in Qiangtang, Sanjiangyuan or Qilian Mountain, the species in which the cattle work are large and medium-sized mammals that attract attention. They are symbolic of conservation and have a degree of conflict with local farmers and herders, and they need to be managed urgently, so the need for investigation and research is clear. Da Niu expects to contribute to the conservation and management of wildlife on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and at the same time experience the joy of adventure in the process.
MRS: What is the overall situation of big cat protection in China?
Big cats: There are 12 species of wild cats in China, four of which are big cats: tigers, leopards, snow leopards, and clouded leopards.
The clouded leopard is in the most critical condition. Clouded leopards have lost most of their historical habitat and are now found only on the southwestern border (southeast Tibet and the border between Yunnan and Southeast Asia), and the population status is unclear and cannot be protected in a targeted manner.
Shule River and the flower land Danxia © bear Jiji
Big Bull: Tigers are in the next best condition, having lost most of their historical habitat. In addition to the Xinjiang tiger, which became extinct in the first half of the twentieth century, China has four tiger subspecies. Among them, the South China tiger can basically be determined to be extinct in the wild; the Indochinese tiger subspecies is worse than the clouded leopard, occasionally appearing on the Yunnan border; there are a small number of Bengal tigers in southeastern Tibet; however, although the population of the Siberian tiger subspecies is not large, the investigation and protection efforts are very large, the population status is clear, and it is sheltered by the Siberian Tiger and Leopard National Park, and the number and range of activities are steadily increasing.
Infrared camera shot - jackal
Da Niu: The leopard is in slightly better condition, and although it has lost most of its historical habitat, it still survives tenaciously along the Hu Huanyong Line. China has four subspecies of leopards: the Amur leopard is similar to the Siberian tiger, the Indochinese leopard is similar to the Indochinese tiger, a small number of Indian leopards are found in the ravines of the Himalayas, which are now identified around Mount Everest, and the North China leopard is the most widely distributed, ranging from the North China Mountains and the Qinling Mountains to the southwestern mountains, although most of them are small populations isolated from each other. Leopards are adaptable, surviving intensive hunting and habitat fragmentation, and are now slowly recovering. In the past decade, government and civil society have cooperated to advocate large-scale leopard population restoration, such as bringing leopards home in the mountains of northern China.
Infrared camera shot - snow leopard
Big Bull: The snow leopard is the best protected big cat in China. Snow leopards are widely distributed in western China, with relatively low levels of human influence, abundant prey, and large populations. In the past decade, the public's love for snow leopards has been increasing, and many scientific research groups, non-governmental organizations and government departments have paid attention to the research and conservation of snow leopards. In fact, the focus of the snow leopard's work is not on saving the species, but on how to protect the alpine mountain ecosystem through the snow leopard.
Infrared camera shot - snow leopard
Infrared camera shot - snow leopard
MRS: How do you protect wildlife and their habitats when conducting your research?
Da Niu: The survey is mainly to assess the status of wildlife populations and their habitats, and to provide a basis for conservation and management decisions. Therefore, investigation and research do not directly play a protective role, but a link in the protection chain. The information and findings obtained by the investigative research also need to be acted upon through the decision-making and action of the competent authorities. Of course, research itself also needs to follow specific ethics to avoid negative impacts on wildlife and their habitats.
The Flower Land Conservation Station abruptly exists in the wilderness ©, and Xiong Jiji is there
Trench © Bear Jiji with an infrared camera
MRS: Were there any unexpected findings about wildcat ecology, habitat, and conservation during the research, and can you share any interesting observations or findings?
Big cattle: Different species of cats, and even different individuals of the same species, respond differently to human activities. Some species or individuals avoid humans, while others move closer to humans. Each of these survival strategies has its pros and cons. For example, in the eastern part of Qilian Mountain, Qinghai, after 20 years of returning farmland to forest, a large area of farmland around Menyuan County is embedded with a small area of sea buckthorn forest. There are abundant moles in the farmland, and sea buckthorn forests can provide shelter. As a result, this combination attracts many desert cats to settle down, forming a high-density desert cat population.
Wild Cat Kuma © Yoshikichi
Big Cow: At the same time, these desert cats, which are close to humans, are in danger of roadkills, secondary poisoning, and crossbreeding with domestic cats. And in the natural bushes on the outskirts of the farmland area, there are also desert cats that seem to be far away from humans. We joke that there are two kinds of desert cats in Menyuan: "city cats" and "mountain cats". There is a legend of "cat ghost god" in Menyuan. Desert cats often haunt the cemeteries in the mountains around Menyuan overlooking the lights of the city – the cemeteries are usually in the bush – so we jokingly call them "soul watchers".
Desert cat, © three big cats
MRS: What are the implications of these findings for the conservation of biodiversity and the sustainable development of ecosystems?
Da Niu: The emergence of a high-density desert cat population around Menyuan County is a new phenomenon in the past 20 years. Around 2006, when Yin Yufeng, a graduate student of Peking University, went to Menyuan to investigate desert cats, he did not find them. The emergence of this phenomenon is related to the two policies launched by Menyuan County in 2000. The first is the transformation of the land landscape, the large-scale planting of rape flowers, creating today's "million acres of rape flowers" landscape
Desert cat, © three big cats
Da Niu: The second is to return farmland to forest, planting trees on the original barren beach and part of the farmland, and finally surviving is sea buckthorn. And so the desert cat followed. Neither policy was intended to restore wildlife. However, desert cats can adapt well to the new environment, so they have become the top carnivores in the shallow mountain belt of the Qilian Mountains. The lesson of this case is that wildlife conservation does not necessarily need to go to remote and uninhabited areas, and more animals are sharing habitats with humans. It is therefore imperative to explore ways of coexistence in "human-dominated regions".
Flower land without a roof house © Kuma Jigi
The last herdsmen have also long since withdrawn from the flower field ©
MRS: Did you encounter any challenges when conducting the expedition and how did you overcome them to ensure the smooth running of the expedition?
Da Niu: Crossing the river has been a problem since June 2014, when we first entered Hua'er Land to conduct a snow leopard survey. Huaerdi is located in the westernmost part of the Qilian Mountains in Qinghai, the Shule River flows from east to west, and the road is located in the south of the Shule River.
In June 2014, I accompanied Dr. Schaller into the Flower Field to investigate snow leopards. As early as the winter of 1984, the old man visited this mountainous area, and with the help of the chain bridge in the labor camp, he searched the valleys on both sides of the Shule River, and found many traces of snow leopards. So he returned to his hometown thirty years later, and after inspecting the mountains on the south bank of the Shule River, he also wanted to take a look at the north bank. We put on water pants and tried to wade through the water. But the river almost swept away the "greatest naturalist of the twentieth century".
The earliest river crossing tool of the Shule River- picture source: Liu Daniu
The earliest river crossing tool of the Shule River- picture source: Liu Daniu
Da Niu: By 2017, the Qinghai area of Qilian Mountain National Park launched a snow leopard survey, and we were thinking about spreading infrared cameras to both sides of the Shule River in Huaerdi. It was not until December 2018 that assault boats were used to cross the river to the north bank. The Shule River in Huaerdi does not freeze completely in winter, and the water flow is gentle, and the ice on both sides of the river forms a convenient wharf. After paddling across the river, pull up the rope and pull it back and forth. For several years after that, the river was successfully crossed using bulky assault boats. But in June 2022, the river swelled so much that the assault boats could not do anything.
The earliest river crossing tool of the Shule River- picture source: Liu Daniu
Da Niu: In May 2023, after learning Xi rafting in Sichuan, and then coming to Huaerdi, we switched to kayaking. Using the rapids crossing technique to ferry back and forth, it was easy to send people across the Shule River. From 2014 to 2023, we watched Huaerdi transform from a mining site to the core area of a national park in ten years, and we also went here every year to conduct research and research. Rafting was a means of gaining access to more areas as we investigated, and it was also an interesting experience.
Source-Liu Daniu
MRS: Field surgery may involve some complex environmental and climatic conditions, especially the rafting section is dangerous, how can you protect yourself?
Big Bull: In May 2023, after being introduced by my friend Xiaohu, I went to Chengdu to Xi learn from Coach Yuan Xiaojin for three days, including one day in Chengdu and two days in Qingyi River entry-level white water. At the end of June and the beginning of July, we used MRS alligators and barracudas to raft the Huangshui River in Xining City, the Buha River at the source of Qinghai Lake, and the Shule River in the hinterland of the Qilian Mountains.
Source-Liu Daniu
Source-Liu Daniu
Da Niu: After these few attempts, we have accumulated a little experience, and at the same time, we obviously feel the lack of technical level and expedition experience. Therefore, in order to ensure safety, the first thing is to practice more Xi, learn more Xi, improve their skills and physical fitness, and accumulate experience; secondly, respect the river, solicit opinions from many parties, make good judgments, and do not take risks beyond their ability; and finally, I hope to invite experienced whitewater players to participate in the follow-up investigation.
Shule River - Photo source Liu Daniu
[Note: Shule River is the second largest river in the Hexi Corridor in Gansu Province. In the northwest of Gansu Province, the western section of the Hexi Corridor. It originates from the Shule Brain between the Shule South Mountain and the Taolai South Mountain in the Qilian Mountains, flows through the swamp in the northwest, collects the alpine snow and glacial meltwater and precipitation in the mountains, and flows into the Changma Basin to the north to Huaerdi, which is called the Changma River. 】
MRS: How has the backpacker helped you in your expedition and how has it played a role in the fieldwork?
Big Niu: The backpacker helped us easily solve the problem of crossing the river, and at the same time expanded the possibilities of animal surveys. There are no roads in many parts of the Qilian Mountains, which cannot be reached by vehicles, and the coverage of trekking is limited, and the organization of horse teams is more expensive. The mountainous terrain along the river, which is not accessible to vehicles, is also difficult to reach on foot and with horse teams. Along the river, there are often areas rich in wildlife, such as snow leopards, lynxes, white-lipped deer, and red deer, all of which will be seen in the bushes along the banks, and even frequent river crossings. In particular, there are many rivers in the Qilian Mountains, which run through a considerable area.
Photo source: Liu Daniu
BULL: Therefore, the lightweight and easy-to-operate MRS backpacker provides a viable way to reach these areas. I have always been eager to carry out a "River-based Mega-Transect" survey, using kayaks to go down the river to observe and record wildlife along the Qilian Mountains, and to supplement the lack of "land-based" surveys.
Photo source: Liu Daniu
MRS: What were the factors to consider when choosing a backpacker, and what are the advantages and features of the backpacker compared to other means of transport for your scientific expedition?
Big Bull: Lightweight and Safety. The backpacker is much lighter than the assault boats and kayaks that have been tried before, and can be carried with two fingers when inflated, so you can carry the backpacker and camping equipment together when you need to climb the mountain. The backpacker is made of hard-wearing and crash-resistant materials, and it's reassuring to be safe from frequent rubbing against pebbles in braided rivers with low water levels and rocks in fast-flowing canyon sections.
Photo source: Liu Daniu
Da Niu: In the wildlife survey in the Qilian Mountains, backpacking boats are a new thing compared to other means of transportation, and even the aquatic life survey team does not use professional rafting boats. To access the difficult whitewater stretch of the river, backpacker users need to be trained. In other words, backpackers have a certain threshold for use, but any means of transportation has similar requirements.
Photo source: Liu Daniu
MRS: What do you think can be improved about backpackers in the future, and what are your expectations for the development of its application in scientific research?
Big Cow: The backpacker is expected to be used for scientific expeditions in two scenarios. The first is similar to ours in the Qilian Mountains, using backpack boats along the river to enter areas that are not accessible to vehicles, and then setting up camps and carrying out surveys from the camps to the surrounding areas. The second is the survey of birds and aquatic life in lake wetlands, which is more observed and documented on a boat in a still-water environment. Both scenarios expect lightweight devices, while the second scenario does not require much technical requirements for the user.
Photo source: Liu Daniu
Photo source: Liu Daniu
Da Niu: For the application of backpackers in the future scientific expedition, I feel that there are two points that can be focused on: the first is equipment packaging, from backpacking boats and their accessories, to helmets, wet clothes and other personal equipment, the integration of a set of equipment that can be directly put into use, reducing the time cost of the scientific expedition team to select and equip equipment;
Photo source: Liu Daniu
Photo source: Liu Daniu
Da Niu: Of course, the more the public understands and experiences rafting, the higher the tide rises, and the scientific expedition personnel will also be affected. It is expected that in the future scientific research work, backpacking boats will become routine equipment, and the mountains and rivers will no longer be obstacles, but passages.
Photo source: Liu Daniu
Editor: Xiran
Source: Liu Daniu
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