Located in Shangcheng County, Xinyang City, Henan Dabie Mountain National Nature Reserve is home to many national key protected animals and a forest ecosystem in the transition zone from subtropical to warm temperate zone.
Wild raccoon side photo
Chinese Autumn Sand Duck
White-crowned long-tailed pheasant
Badgers at night
□ Top News Dahe News reporter Li Xin Yang Xiaoyan correspondent Luo Yulan Wentu
"We were all excited, we've been monitoring wild raccoons up close twice this year, and our colleagues are excited." On the 15th, when recalling the wild raccoon video returned by the machine a few days ago, Zhan Zhiqiang, director of the scientific research planning unit of the Jingangtai Management Committee, laughed. On September 11 this year, catfish raccoons were monitored in the Catfish Mountain Area of Henan Dabie Mountain National Nature Reserve in Shangcheng County, Xinyang City. On 6 January, wild raccoons were also spotted in the Kumgangtai area of the reserve. Not only that, but state-level protected animals such as badgers, badgers, and Chinese autumn sand ducks have also appeared in Xinyang Mall many times.
The nearly extinct "fur dog" reappears
Raccoons are a very old species in the canine family, and in early 2021, their wild population was upgraded to a national second-level protected animal. In Shangcheng County, wild raccoons are known as "hairy dogs" and "dog raccoons". According to Yang Xianqiang, police chief of the police district of the County's Jingangtai National Geopark, some people told him that in the 1980s, there were many "hair dogs" in Shangcheng County, but at that time, people had no sense of protection, a large number of hunting, there were foreign trade livestock products companies specifically to buy raccoon skins, more than 2,000 pieces a year, so that for many years, "hair dogs" almost disappeared.
"We were all thrilled when the infrared camera took videos and photos of wild raccoons. We usually hear it from the older generation, but we have never seen it. The photos taken by the infrared camera at close range not only have time and place, but also latitude and longitude, and from a scientific point of view, it is determined that this is our native wildlife. Zhan Zhiqiang told reporters that wild raccoons are very cute, cute, look like dogs and foxes, and are very smart. He usually likes to be alone at night and is an omnivorous animal. The average wild raccoon is about 40 cm long and weighs 20 to 30 pounds. Adult raccoons are slightly larger and usually live in mountain forests below 1,000 meters above sea level.
A variety of protected wild animals live in the reserve
"The reserve is now equipped with a modern ecological monitoring system, an infrared monitoring system, which can return video and pictures in real time. Since the beginning of this year, after monitoring, we have found that many wild animals that only exist in our local 'legends' have slowly appeared. The staff of the Protected Area Management Bureau said that in January this year, 77 Chinese Autumn Sand Duck, a national first-level protected animal, were found in the reserve, and the national first-level key protected animal Forest Musk was also found, and in August, the national second-level protected animal pig badger was monitored. Up to now, the reserve has repeatedly monitored many national key protected animals such as Chinese autumn sand duck, white-crowned long-tailed pheasant, raccoon, badger, chamois and so on.
Shangcheng County is located in the subtropical northern edge, the geographical location has the uniqueness of China's second ladder to the third ladder transition, the county's forest coverage rate of 60.57%, there are more than 700 rivers, nearly 200 large, medium and small reservoirs, superior geographical environment makes Henan Dabie Mountain National Nature Reserve known as "biological treasure house" and "Zhongzhou Zoological and Botanical Museum". There are 2777 species of higher plants and 517 species of terrestrial vertebrates, including 88 species of animals and plants under national key protection, 68 species of animals and plants under provincial key protection, and 21 species of endemic species.
A large number of rare species have been preserved, thanks to the fact that Shangcheng County has always adhered to the precise positioning of ecological county and scientific development. In recent years, the county has actively practiced the concept of green development, protected ecological resources, governed the ecological environment, developed ecological industries, transformed ecological advantages, and promoted the harmonious coexistence between man and nature. In particular, since the establishment of the national nature reserve in 2014, by increasing the publicity of the "Wildlife Protection Law" and other laws, establishing a sound management mechanism, and carrying out special actions for the supervision and inspection of protected areas, the awareness of animal and plant protection among the cadres and masses in the county has been greatly improved, and the protection and management work has become a conscious action of the people.
The territory of Xinyang City is rich in forest ecological resources and has an excellent ecological and natural environment. The reporter learned that at present, there are 2031 species of wild animals in Xinyang City, including 381 species of terrestrial vertebrates and 1650 species of invertebrates. There are more than 300 species of birds, accounting for 90% of the total bird species in the province. Precious birds include crested ibises, Chinese autumn sand ducks, white-crowned pheasants, giant swans, cygnets and other protected birds.
Little Science
Raccoons are very old species in the canine family and are thought to resemble the ancestors of the canine family. Short and fat, it is somewhere between a raccoon and a dog, smaller than a dog or a fox. Dark brown body color. The snout is white; the limbs are short and black; and the tail is thick and short. The face has a black "pirate-like mask".
It inhabits open, near-water or open meadows, dense shrublands and reed fields in broad-leaved forests; rarely found in dense forests in high mountains. Nocturnal, foraging along riverbanks, lakes and seashores, with a wide range of diets ranging from birds and small mammals to fruits. Family groups in pairs or ad hoc forms are found. Unlike most members of the canine family, it is relatively good at climbing trees. Raccoons are also the only canids that dormant in winter, feeding in large quantities in the fall until they gain 50 percent more weight than they used to.
Raccoon is an endemic animal of East Asia, native to Russia and Asia in Korea, Japan, China, Mongolia and other countries, introduced to northern and eastern Europe from 1927 to 1957, and after being introduced to Europe, it has spread rapidly in some areas. Japan is more abundant, but it is extinct in some parts of China.