Public Network poster news reporter Jiang Xueying reported from Beijing
In the ecological and environmental protection photography circle, there is a person named "Lao Ge", who drills through the mountains and forests, climbs the ice and lies in the snow, eats and sleeps in the wind, and walks on the magnificent land of the Qinghai Plateau with his camera on his back, which is 25 years. "Lao Ge" real name Ge Yuxiu, a native of Cao County, Shandong. Since 1995, Ge Yuxiu has used his spare time to go to Qinghai Lake more than 260 times, Sanjiangyuan 25 times, and Coco Xili 15 times at his own expense, taking more than 100,000 pictures.
On June 5, at the 2021 June 5 Environment Day National Home Event held in Xining City, Qinghai Province, Ge Yuxiu, together with Olympic champion Xu Haifeng, CCTV host Ju Ping and others, was named the 2021 Annual Ecological Environment Special Invited Observer. The poster news reporter met Ge Yuxiu at the scene, and he told reporters that he hopes to let more people participate in environmental protection and contribute to the construction of ecological civilization in our country.
Ge Yuxiu made his own wild animals into promotional cards at his own expense and distributed them for free
The first person in the world to shoot the Chinese diagonal antelope
In Ge Yuxiu,the reporter can't see that he has a series of experiences such as the secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission of the Qinghai Banking Regulatory Bureau and a member of the China Photographers Association—only his pure love for wild animals.
Shooting in the snow
In order to share the story of shooting wild animals with reporters, Ge Yuxiu, 68, made a 216-page PPT. When showing the Chinese diagonal antelope, spotted goose, snow leopard, wolf, huangyu and other animals he photographed, Ge Yuxiu seemed to have endless words, "I just liked it before, but now it has become a responsibility." ”
In 1995, Ge Yuxiu first heard about the Species of Przewalski's Hartebeest, "At that time, there were fewer than 300 Przewalski's Hartebeest, which was less than the number of giant pandas and was listed as a critically endangered species." In late November 1997, Ge Yuxiu and his friends went to the Buha River estuary to photograph giant swans, and halfway along the way, they encountered 7 brown-yellow animals jumping in a line and running wildly. He raised his camera and photographed it, and after being certified by experts, the animal he photographed was the Przewalski's gazelle.
Chinese diagonal gazelle photographed by Ge Yuxiu
"It was taken on film, it was a scan, and although it's not clear, this photo has been on CCTV more than twenty times with me, and I've also been on AMERICAN AND BRITISH TV stations." This is the first photo of The Przewalski's Gazelle in China and the first in the world, and I accidentally became the first person to photograph the Przewalski's Gazelle. Ge Yuxiu said.
In order to take precious pictures of Przewalski's gazelle, Ge Yuxiu often shuttled through the vast no-man's land of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, eating and sleeping in the wind, starving and freezing, and once encountered the threat of wild wolves, "The wolf pack is chasing a sheep, the nearest wolf is only 30 meters away from me, fortunately it was not discovered, I only 'wolf mouth out of danger', if it is discovered, I will not sit here to communicate with you today." ”
Over the years, as people's awareness of conservation increased, the population of Przewalski's gazelle returned to more than 2,000. Ge Yuxiu believes that this antelope, which is only distributed in China, should have a Chinese name. In August 2004, Ge Yuxiu, after seeking expert advice, gave The Przewalski's hartebeest a Chinese name, the "Chinese Diagonal Antelope".
"You see its horns are very symmetrical, and it is the most beautiful of the antelope. So, I call it the Chinese diagonal gazelle. ”
Later, the name "Chinese Diagonal Antelope" was also officially recognized, and in December 2009, Ge Yuxiu was hired by the Gangcha County Government as the "Honorary Director of the Chinese Diagonal Antelope Conservation Station", and was affectionately known by many people as the father of the "Chinese Diagonal Antelope".
Treated as a relative by 7 small spotted geese
Ge Yuxiu photographed wild animals and pursued a documentary style. To this end, he repeatedly stationed and squatted on the shores of Qinghai Lake. "I have been to an island in the middle of Qinghai Lake three times, and the longest one has been 7 days and 7 nights." During this period, he could only rely on his own dry food and mineral water to feed himself, "I did not drink a mouthful of hot water, did not eat a mouthful of hot rice." ”
On this small island, he rescued 7 small spotted geese chased by fish gulls. The little spotted goose is extremely humane, and after being carefully cared for and fed for two days, he haunts Ge Yuxiu's ankles.
"The little fellow treats me like his relative, and wherever I go, I walk in front and he is behind; I sit there, and they lie on top of me." Ge Yuxiu told reporters, "You can imagine, they have been following me, I want to take a picture is more difficult." Finally, Ge Yuxiu jumped into the water, and the little spotted goose immediately swam over, and he quickly pressed the shutter, leaving a precious photo of the little spotted goose playing in the water.
Group photo with spotted geese
7 days later, the boat that picked up Ge Yuxiu arrived, and it didn't happen that the little spotted goose chased after him with a roar, lying at his feet and not moving. Watching the little spotted goose chase after him with his legs moving inch long steps, Ge Yuxiu was unwilling in his heart and bid farewell to the little goose for the third time. Finally, he hurriedly boarded the boat and left the island, only to see a few small spotted geese flapping their wings and stumbling into the water and swimming toward the boat. The figure of the little spotted goose became smaller and smaller, and Ge Yuxiu saw from the telescope that the two small spotted geese were still standing on the reef and looking in the direction of the ship.
"Life is great, and it should be respected, both strong and weak." After spending time with 7 small spotted geese, Ge Yuxiu had a deeper understanding of life.
In more than 20 years of shooting, Ge Yuxiu also saw unbearable pictures: broken bird eggs, dead Chinese diagonal antelopes, brown-headed gulls whose nests were destroyed, and so on. Ge Yuxiu was heartbroken by this, and he called on the society to pay more attention to the protection of the ecological environment, "to protect the ecological environment and protect the common home of people and animals, not only rely on the government, but also rely on the joint participation and action of everyone." ”
As long as you can move, keep shooting
On June 5, at the 2021 June 5 Environment Day National Home Event held in Xining City, Qinghai Province, Ge Yuxiu, together with Olympic champion Xu Haifeng, CCTV host Ju Ping and others, was named the 2021 Annual Ecological Environment Special Invited Observer.
"Being able to be elected as an observer is everyone's trust and affirmation of me, and I will continue to publicize and pass on the concept of ecological environmental protection, do a good job in the duties of observer observation and supervision, exert my initiative, and do a good job as an observer as much as possible." Ge Yuxiu told the poster reporter that the elected observers themselves also felt pressure, "I want to turn this pressure into a driving force, let more people participate in environmental protection, and contribute to the construction of ecological civilization in our country." ”
Ge Yuxiu has taken more than 100,000 wild animal photos
With the increase of age, many people are asking Ge Yuxiu: Do you still want to continue shooting?
"I can't stop myself, as long as I can walk, I'll shoot more." He told reporters, "I hope that the Chinese people can understand our country's wild animals and protect our wild animals as we understand and are familiar with The wild animals in Africa." ”