STORY: Baby Tibetan antelopes rescued by rangers in China's Hoh Xil
SHOOTING TIME: Aug. 13, 2024
DATELINE: Aug. 17, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:31
LOCATION: XINING, China
CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Sonam Dargye Protection Station
2. STANDUP 1 (English): WANG JINJIN, Xinhua correspondent
3. various of a ranger feeding the baby antelopes
4. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): LHUNDRUP TSEGYEL, Ranger of Sonam Dargye Protection Station in Hoh Xil
5. various of a ranger preparing milk for baby antelopes
6. STANDUP 2 (English): WANG JINJIN, Xinhua correspondent

STORYLINE:

In Hoh Xil National Nature Reserve, China's Qinghai Province, efforts to protect Tibetan antelopes have yielded remarkable results. Their conservation status in China has been downgraded from "endangered" to "near threatened."

STANDUP 1 (English): WANG JINJIN, Xinhua correspondent
"We're now at the Hoh Xil National Nature Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in northwest China's Qinghai Province. Behind me is the wildlife rescue center in Sonam Dargye Protection Station of Hoh Xil. In order to strengthen the protection of wild animals, Sonam Dargye Protection Station set up this wildlife rescue center in 2002."

Tibetan antelopes are mostly found in Xizang Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province, and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The species is under first-class state protection in China.

Every year, pregnant Tibetan antelopes migrate to Hoh Xil in May to give birth and live with their offspring around August.

Some baby antelopes may fall behind and be separated from the herd during the migration journey. Rangers in Hoh Xil will rescue them and take them back to the protection station.

SOUNDBITE (Chinese): LHUNDRUP TSEGYEL, Ranger of Sonam Dargye Protection Station in Hoh Xil
"We rescued 10 Tibetan antelopes this year. They were rescued near the Zonag Lake. Starting in the morning, we feed baby antelopes milk three times a day. We take them out every day to run on the grass and exercise. A baby antelope can drink 500 milliliters of milk each day. When we feed them, they will follow us all the way, just like following their 'mother.' After a baby antelope turns 1 year old, we will put it into a bigger enclosure. We will gradually reduce contact with them and keep them away from humans. It will be safer for them as they will be eventually released into the wild. In about two to three years, these baby antelopes will be released back to the wild."

STANDUP 2 (English): WANG JINJIN, Xinhua correspondent
"Thanks to the great efforts to protect the species, the number of Tibetan antelopes in Hol Xil has increased from (less than) 20,000 in 1980s to over 70,000 now. And in August 2021, the status of Tibetan antelopes in China was downgraded from 'endangered' to 'near threatened.'"

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