The wildlife population in Tibet has risen significantly during the last two decades. The survey, conducted in the Qamdo Prefecture of eastern Tibet, said there had been a steady growth of fauna diversity.
In Mangkam County’s Honglashan Nature Reserve, the number of endangered Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys has increased to more than 700 from about 50 in the 1990s, according to researchers.
In Riwoche Red Deer Nature Reserve, the number of red deer has risen to over 900 from about 700.
A snow leopard was also spotted in eastern Tibet last few years. It was found in a mountain peak at an altitude of 4,600 meters. We identified it as an adult snow leopard three to five years old.
Tibetan authorities have been increasing efforts to stop poaching and illegal trading of wildlife.
Numbers of Tibetan antelopes have grown from 50,000 to 70,000 in 1995 to more than 200,000, and black-necked cranes from 1,000 to 3,000 in 1995 to 7,000. Numbers of such rare and endangered species as wild yaks and Tibetan wild donkeys are also steadily growing, the white paper titled “Successful Practice of Regional Ethnic Autonomy in Tibet” mention.
Currently, Tibet has 47 nature reserves, which cover 412,200 sq km, or 34.35 percent of the total land area of the entire Region. It has also set up 22 ecological reserves (two at state level), four state level scenic spots, nine national forest parks, 10 national wetland parks, and four geological parks (three at state level), wherein 141 wild animal species and 38 species of wild plants are under state protection, 196 indigenous animal species, and 855 indigenous plants and important ecological systems are under effective protection.
In recent years, with the strategic objectives of building an ecological safety barrier as well as an ecologically healthy and beautiful Tibet, the regional government has drawn up systematic plans to build and protect Tibet’s ecological environment.