Wild west calls for volunteers
Updated: 2012-04-12 07:25
By Xinhua (China Daily)
|
|||||||||
The remote Kekexili nature reserve on western China's Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is seeking volunteers to help protect its endangered Tibetan antelopes and other wildlife species.
The volunteers will spend a month in the vast expanse of uninhabited land patrolling mountains, rivers and lakes, to stop poachers and help rescue wild animals in danger. They will also promote public awareness of eco-conservation, said Tseten, head of the Kekexili national nature reserve administration.
He said all applicants must be aged under 45 and have sufficient field skills to survive the tough plateau environment at an altitude above 5,000 meters.
"The ideal candidates should also have a professional background, preferably in environmental protection, biology, radio or satellite communication," Tseten added.
He said the administration was yet to decide how many volunteers it would recruit. "We'll see how many are qualified."
The volunteers will join forestry workers and wildlife preservation specialists for the month-long job, at the end of which they have to submit a report.
Applications opened on Wednesday at the administration's website at kkxl.enorth.com.cn, and the first group of volunteers will start work on May 1.
They will be followed by five more teams, the last of which will end the mission on Oct 31.
Kekexili began recruiting volunteers for mountain patrols in 2002. To date, more than 400 people from 28 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions have joined the campaign. The volunteers come from different walks of life, including reporters, teachers, students, medical workers, lawyers, environmentalists, business people and Buddhist monks.
"We hope more international volunteers will join the campaign this year, so people from across the globe will understand the importance of the plateau environment," said Tseten.
International volunteers will need to register at the State Forestry Administration and with foreign affairs authorities before embarking on the Kekexili trip.
Kekexili nature reserve, also known as Hoh Xil, encompasses China's largest area of uninhabited land and is home to several species of endangered wildlife, including Tibetan antelopes.
The region became well known following the release of the award-winning feature film, Kekexili Mountain Patrol, by Chinese director Lu Chuan. It tells the true story of a journalist who joined a Tibetan volunteer patrol to pursue poachers trading Tibetan antelope skins.
- Relief reaches isolated village
- Rainfall poses new threats to quake-hit region
- Funerals begin for Boston bombing victims
- Quake takeaway from China's Air Force
- Obama celebrates young inventors at science fair
- Earth Day marked around the world
- Volunteer team helping students find sense of normalcy
- Ethnic groups quick to join rescue efforts
Most Viewed
Editor's Picks
Supplies pour into isolated villages |
All-out efforts to save lives |
American abroad |
Industry savior: Big boys' toys |
New commissioner
|
Liaoning: China's oceangoing giant |
Today's Top News
Health new priority for quake zone
Xi meets US top military officer
Japan's boats driven out of Diaoyu
China mulls online shopping legislation
Bird flu death toll rises to 22
Putin appoints new ambassador to China
Japanese ships blocked from Diaoyu Islands
Inspired by Guan, more Chinese pick up golf
US Weekly
Beyond Yao
|
Money power |