Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily (Reporter: Xie Huibian) news: The reporter learned from the scientific expedition project group of Xinjiang Lop Nur Wild Camel National Nature Reserve that researchers of the project group captured brown bear images by infrared cameras during the winter and autumn animal diversity investigation in Xinjiang Lop Nur Wild Camel National Nature Reserve. This is the first time brown bear images have been captured since the reserve was established.

Photo shows a brown bear captured by infrared camera. (Photo offered by the interviewee)

According to the scientific expedition report of the reserve, brown bear tracks were found near the pass of Honggou Gully in the Altun Mountains in 1997, but no direct evidence of brown bears has been obtained since then. This infrared camera monitoring confirms the real existence of brown bears in the reserve.

Brown bear is a national second-class protected animal of China with a body length of 1.5-2.8 meters. It mainly lives in the coniferous forest, and is omnivorous. Its diet includes all kinds of roots, grains and fruits, and honey is its favorite. In China, brown bear is mainly distributed in the forest and grassland in Xinjiang, Qinghai, Tibet, Sichuan and other places.

Xue Yadong, associate researcher of the Forest Ecology and Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, who is in charge of the project, said, “Brown bears are at the top of the food chain and to find them in Lop Nur Reserve can prove to some extent the increasing biodiversity and the continued improvement of the overall ecological environment.”

Photo shows an argali captured by infrared camera. (Photo offered by the interviewee)

Not only that, the project team also captured snow leopard, jackal, lynx, wolf, red fox, wild camel, Tibetan wild ass, black-tailed gazelle, blue sheep, argali, etc., with infrared cameras.

The reporter learned that the scientific expedition project of Xinjiang Lop Nur Wild Camel National Nature Reserve is one of the important sub-projects of ‘Investigation of Natural Protected Areas and Scientific Expedition of Potential Areas of National Parks in Xinjiang’ -- the third special project of comprehensive scientific expedition in Xinjiang.

Photo shows a jackal captured by infrared camera. (Photo offered by the interviewee)

The project, launched in November 2021, aims to make a comprehensive survey of wild animal and wild vascular plant resources such as mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles in the reserve by further using remote sensing interpretation, infrared camera, model simulation and DNA sample detection on the basis of the previous comprehensive scientific expedition in the reserve. It is also intended to survey and analyze the species and population status of endemic and rare and endangered animal and plant species in the reserve, and put forward suggestions on the protection of wild camels, the optimization and adjustment of the reserve and the establishment of a national park.

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