Panda Patrols on the Qinling Mountain

THE Zhouzhi County Laoxiancheng Nature Reserve at the southern foot of the Qinling Mountains in Shaanxi Province is habitat to more than 30 giant pandas. They are looked upon as China's national treasure. Covering a total area of 12,611 hectares, the nature reserve is also home to other wildlife species, such as antelopes, golden monkeys, and leopards.

A patrol of 11 members, formed 15 years ago, works to protect animals living on the reserve, and their natural environment. Each month it spends 3 to 5 days on three inspections. In the 1980s the patrol rescued and treated an injured giant panda they found on the mountain.

Patrol members' working conditions are very poor. In order to protect the forest, they seldom light camp fires to cook, preferring to eat raw food and drink from the mountain springs. A photographer who visited the nature reserve last year was greatly moved by their working spirit, and later made a donation of tents and sleeping bags to the patrol, which its members use when out on inspections.

When the patrol members meet takins, they are obliged to escape up a tree. When they come across sick or hungry animals, they feed and treat them. Their presence also inhibits poaching. As tourism continues to boom in the area, patrol members are concerned about the reserve's ecological environment. They are totally committed to their work and do their utmost to protect the nature reserve and its wildlife inhabitants.

A giant panda asleep in a tree.	It takes a whole day to walk from Laoxiancheng Village to the giant panda habitat.
Pitching tents.	Patrol members walking through forests.