Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily (Reporter: Zhao Mei) news: An otter sand-bathing in front of its burrow, a brown bear leisurely walking in the forest, clusters of badgers hunting by the river at night... In recent days, the infrared cameras installed by the Habahe Division of the Altun Mountain National Forestry Administration in the wild captured high-definition images of these rare animals.

Photo shows an otter. (Photo offered by the Habahe Division of the Altun Mountain National Forestry Administration)

In the images, an otter, a second class rare wild animal of China, appeared frequently in jungle and dam. The otter seemed to find the infrared camera in its gateway, sniffing then rolling on the sand ground in front of the burrow after confirming there was no danger.

Autumn is the season when brown bear stores energy for dormancy. It forages in jungle and valley, eats everything it can eat no matter it is animal debris or wild fruit on trees.

Photo shows a brown bear. (Photo offered by the Habahe Division of the Altun Mountain National Forestry Administration)

Like brown bears, badgers are busy storing energy for dormancy, too. They who often have nocturnal hunting were captured by infrared cameras when they were walking and sniffing in jungle and by river.

Photo shows a badger. (Photo offered by the Habahe Division of the Altun Mountain National Forestry Administration)

Photo shows a moose. (Photo offered by the Habahe Division of the Altun Mountain National Forestry Administration)

According to Yerqat Silamhal, chief of the section of forest protection of the Habahe Division of the Altun Mountain National Forestry Administration, the division has set 150 infrared cameras in Habahe County since 2018 in order to understand the wildlife resources of the county. “By August, 2022, we have captured the images of more than 25 rare wild animals in succession, including wolverine, black stork, moose, sable, brown bear, otter, badger, lynx, Palla’s cat, elk, etc. Our staff also found mountain Apollo, which is listed in the second class key-protected insects of China and lady's slipper orchid, a new plant species in Xinjiang. All of these can tell that after years of management and conservation, the improvement has been made on bettering ecological environment, presenting a relatively healthy and intact ecosystem.”

(A written permission shall be obtained for reprinting, excerpting, copying and mirroring of the contents published on this website. Unauthorized aforementioned act shall be deemed an infringement, of which the actor shall be held accountable under the law.)