The "List of Wild Animals under National Key Protection" (hereinafter referred to as the "List") is open for comments today (19th).
According to the notice issued by the State Forestry and Grassland Administration and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the deadline for soliciting comments and feedback is July 19, 2020.
The relevant person in charge of the State Forestry and Grassland Administration said that according to the changes in wild resources and the latest research results, the timely adjustment and revision of the "List" is conducive to saving rare and endangered wild animals and maintaining biodiversity and ecological balance.
China implements classified and graded protection of wild animals. Implement key protection of rare and endangered wild animals. Wildlife under national key protection is divided into first-level protected wild animals and second-level protected wild animals.
The directory of wildlife under key national protection is to be formulated after a scientific assessment organized by the competent department for wildlife protection under the State Council, and the directory is to be adjusted on the basis of the assessment situation. The directory of wild animals under key national protection shall be submitted to the State Council for approval and publication.
The person in charge introduced that the formulation and adjustment of the list of wild animals under national key protection should be determined according to the principles of endangerment, preciousness, similarity, prevention, compatibility and attention of wild animals.
For example, the Chinese crested tern, spoon-billed sandpiper, Yangtze River finless porpoise, etc. are listed as critically endangered species by the IUCN Red Species List, and this adjustment is considered to be upgraded or added to the national first-class protected species. There is no definite evidence that the Malay pangolin and the Indian pangolin have a natural distribution in China, but they are sensitive and endangered species in hot spots, so they are included in the scope of protection.
The first financial reporter noted that the northern copper fish, known as the "most mysterious fish" of the Yellow River, was upgraded from the current national endangered second-level protected fish to the first-class protection in this list. The northern copper fish of the Yellow River system is an important aquatic biological resource in China, which has traditionally had high fishery economic value, and is affected by habitat destruction, and its natural population is extremely endangered. In addition, a total of 55 species of wild animal protection levels such as jungle cats, moose deer, and Yangtze River finless porpoises will also be upgraded to the first level.
Due to the remarkable protection results in recent years, some of the wild animals with increasing populations may be downgraded, including bear monkeys, Tibetan wild donkeys, Tibetan antelopes, northern goats, pythons and other five species, all of which have been downgraded from national first-level protected animals to national second-level protected animals.
Taking the Tibetan wild donkey as an example, the Tibetan wild donkey is currently a national first-class protected animal, a high prototype animal, and likes to live in groups. According to statistics from relevant departments, the number of wild donkeys in Sanjiangyuan National Park alone has reached nearly 40,000. In recent years, Tibetan wild donkeys have appeared in large numbers in Tibet, Qinghai, Xinjiang, Gansu and other places. In the Argin Mountain National Nature Reserve, the population of tibetan antelope, wild yak and Tibetan wild donkey, which is endemic to the plateau, has reached 60,000 to 90,000 several years ago.
A Tibetan wild donkey living in Coco Siri. Photography / Zhang Ke