Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily (Reporter Yu Xi) news: On September 9, 2025, Namusila checked his equipment as usual, put his water bottle and food bag in his pocket, and then neatly straddled his motorcycle and drove toward the Sulubiezhen River Valley at the foot of the Biezhentao Mountain in the west of Wenquan County, Bortala Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Sulubiezhen River Valley is located in the Xinjiang Salamander National Nature Reserve, where the relict species Xinjiang salamander, which is 350 million years old, lives. Along the way, the grassland was boundless, and the motorcycle moved forward in the bumps. "My hometown is a beautiful place, and I will take care of Xinjiang salamander like I take care of my children," Namusila said.

Photo taken on September 8, 2025 shows Namusila checks the growth of the Xinjiang salamander in the Xinjiang Salamander National Nature Reserve, Wenquan County, Bortala Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Li Huping)

Namusila, 51, is a herdsman from the Qiaansai team of Zhalemute Township, Wenquan County, Bortala Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Since January this year, he has had a new identity - a ranger at the Xinjiang Salamander National Nature Reserve Management Station. When the news spread, the herdsmen talked about it: "Isn't it asking for trouble to leave the livestock that can make you rich at home and insist on working as rangers?" At that time, Namusila was busy finding someone to take care of his cattle and sheep, and was determined to apply for the ranger.

Namusila has been riding horses to every gully of the Biezhentao Mountains since he was a child, and has a deep affection for here. When he learned that the population of the "critically endangered" species, the Xinjiang salamander, had dropped to more than 3,000 due to changes in natural conditions and human interference, he had the idea of protecting this ancient creature. Later, the old ranger Dong Hua, who had been guarding the Xinjiang salamander for more than 20 years, stepped down. He signed up at the first time and was determined to take on this responsibility. "I am willing to take care of the Xinjiang salamander to contribute to the ecology of my hometown and have a stable income." Namusila said.

The Xinjiang salamander mainly lives in the high-altitude wetlands of Wenquan County at an altitude of about 3,000 meters. The terrain is complex and dangerous, and it is also an area where thunderstorms occur frequently. At about 10:00 every day, Namusila would set off from the management station in the wilderness to the high-altitude wetlands. On the patrol road, he not only had to endure the scorching sun and mosquito bites, but also often encountered severe weather such as rainstorms and sandstorms, and even faced unknown dangers such as falling rocks and wild wolf attacks. After arriving at the habitat of the Xinjiang salamander, he would carefully check the flow of the stream and the fence of the protected area. When he encountered the Xinjiang salamander crawling into the grass, he would carefully put it back into the wetland... After being busy for several hours, Namusila would sit on the ground and eat a few bites of naan and drink some water, and then embark on the road back to the management station. In this way, he has to travel more than 30 kilometers every day.

To protect the Xinjiang salamander, it is necessary to have a deep understanding of it. During the days when Namusila was stationed at the management and protection station alone, he went to the alpine wetland to patrol during the day, and did not forget to shoot the image data of the Xinjiang salamander. In the evening, he held his mobile phone and carefully studied the protection knowledge of the Xinjiang salamander. Over time, he has a deep understanding of the living habits, breeding characteristics and living environment of the Xinjiang salamander.

Birds, butterflies, and wild rabbits became Namusila's best companions and he liked to use his camera to record the wild animals and plants he saw on his patrol route. He rode a motorcycle on flat ground, rode a horse on mountain roads, and walked on foot when he encountered places where there were no roads. With this tenacity, he quickly learned about the natural resources such as grasslands and mountains in the Wenquan Xinjiang Salamander National Nature Reserve, and he also lost a lot of weight.

Photo taken on September 8, 2025 shows Namusila checks the water quality in the growth environment of the Xinjiang salamander in the Xinjiang Salamander National Nature Reserve, Wenquan County, Bortala Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Li Huping)

In the past two years, self-driving tours have become increasingly popular, and occasionally tourists will break into the protected area. Whenever he encounters this situation, Namusila will immediately step forward to stop them. Even when he encounters tourists who do not listen to his advice, he never backs down, but always patiently explains and persuades them to go to the Xinjiang Salamander Research and Education Center to watch the salamanders. If he encounters cattle and sheep foraging near the protected area, he will patiently communicate with the herdsmen, explain in detail the various policies and laws and regulations for the protection of the Xinjiang salamander, until he persuades the herders, and actively help to drive away their livestock, so that they stay away from the protected area. Now, under the leadership of Namusila, local herdsmen have a deeper understanding of the concept that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets."

Namusila knows that protecting the Xinjiang salamander is far from enough to rely on himself. He began to forward the pictures, videos, protection knowledge and relevant policies of the nature reserve of the Xinjiang salamander to relatives, friends and surrounding herdsmen through online platforms, and mobilized everyone to be the protector and propagandist of the Xinjiang salamander. Under his influence, his son, who is studying at Xinjiang Normal University, also often uses his spare time to publicize the importance of protecting the Xinjiang salamander to his classmates.

Being a ranger in the high-altitude mountainous area is not only hard, but also requires frequent trips to the mountains, and most of the time he cannot go home. Namusila's wife, Jigatubu, understands her husband very well. As long as she has time, she will rush to the management station to accompany her husband, and they will also go to patrol together.

In recent years, with the implementation of a series of protection measures such as the construction of fences, the prohibition of grazing, artificial patrols, water diversion in the protected area, artificial breeding, and scientific research assistance, the population of Xinjiang salamanders has been increasing year by year. "The Xinjiang salamander is a precious biological resource, and I will always stick to my post as a ranger and contribute my strength to their continuous reproduction," Namusila said.

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