STORY: Exploring ecology in Altun Mountains: Protected animals
SHOOTING TIME: Recent footage
DATELINE: Dec. 16, 2023
LENGTH: 00:01:58
LOCATION: RUOQIANG, China
CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT

SHOTLIST: 
1. various of the Altun Mountain National Nature Reserve
2. STANDUP 1 (English): GU YU, Xinhua correspondent
3. various of wildlife in the Altun Mountain National Nature Reserve (file)
4. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): SHANG PENG, Ranger, Altun Mountain National Nature Reserve Administration
5. various of wildlife in the Altun Mountain National Nature Reserve (file)
6. STANDUP 2 (English): GU YU, Xinhua correspondent
7. various of wildlife in the Altun Mountain National Nature Reserve (file)
8. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): SHANG PENG, Ranger, Altun Mountain National Nature Reserve Administration
9. various of wildlife in the Altun Mountain National Nature Reserve (file)

STORYLINE:

Xinjiang, China

STANDUP 1 (English): GU YU, Xinhua correspondent
"The air in the Altun Mountains is thin, the roads are hard and steep, (and) few people tread here. Because of this, there is a complete and almost pristine plateau desert ecosystem preserved here, where more than 300 species of wildlife thrive."

The Altun Mountain National Nature Reserve covers an area of 45,000 square km at an average altitude of more than 4,000 meters.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): SHANG PENG, Ranger, Altun Mountain National Nature Reserve Administration
"Our reserve has 17 species of animals under first-class national protection and 31 species of animals under second-class national protection. Of course, the main focus is on the protection of three major ungulate species: Tibetan antelopes, wild yaks, and Tibetan wild donkeys (kiang)."

STANDUP 2 (English): GU YU, Xinhua correspondent
"With the continuous improvement of the ecological environment in the reserve, the number of Tibetan antelopes, wild yaks and kiangs on the plateau has increased significantly in recent years."

According to statistics of the reserve, the population of the Tibetan antelopes, wild yaks, and Tibetan wild donkeys stood at about 90,000, and now the number has exceeded 120,000.

In recent years, in addition to the three major ungulate species, a large number of other wildlife have been detected through infrared cameras.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): SHANG PENG, Ranger, Altun Mountain National Nature Reserve Administration
"The protected animals, such as kiangs, are very commonly seen near our Yishikepati conservation station. And every morning throughout the year, kiangs can be observed very close to our station. Wild yaks can sometimes be spotted near the station in winter. Wolves, as well as Tibetan bears, would often have close encounters with the guards around the station."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Ruoqiang, China.
(XHTV)