Advanced tech boosts wildlife conservation

Advanced technologies, ranging from infrared cameras and drones to remote sensing and genetic analysis, are providing stronger scientific support for wildlife conservation and national park management in Sanjiangyuan, Qinghai province, according to researchers.

Researchers at the Institute of Sanjiangyuan National Park of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed an integrated monitoring system combining ground surveys, infrared cameras, drones and satellite remote sensing.

Zhang Tongzuo, a researcher at the institute, said the system was developed through years of fieldwork in the Sanjiangyuan National Park, also known as the Three-River-Source National Park, and has since been applied in wildlife surveys in the Qinghai Lake, Qilian Mountains and Kunlun Mountains national park areas.

"In the past, species surveys largely depended on field observations with the naked eye or binoculars," Zhang said. "Now, with infrared cameras, drones and remote sensing, we can cover larger areas and obtain more comprehensive information."

The system supported the first wildlife baseline survey of Sanjiangyuan National Park, China's first national park. The survey recorded 270 terrestrial wild vertebrate species, including 62 mammals, 196 birds, seven amphibians and five reptiles. Of those, 203 are protected species, accounting for about three-fourths of the total.

Zhang said the system helps eliminate blind spots in traditional surveys. Infrared cameras can operate continuously for months, while drones can reach valleys, wetlands and mountainous areas that are difficult or inaccessible for researchers.

"People may pass through a place and leave soon, but a camera can remain there and record animal activity over a long period," he said. "That gives us more complete and objective information."

One recent example came from the Make River forest area in southeastern Qinghai, where an infrared camera captured a clear image of a medium-sized mammal in March. Researchers later confirmed it was a masked palm civet, or Paguma larvata.

The discovery added a new mammal record for Qinghai and marked the first confirmed record of the civet family in the province. It was also the first newly recorded medium-to-large mammal species in Qinghai in more than two decades.

Since 2023, Qinghai has recorded more than 30 new or newly documented species at the county or provincial level during wildlife surveys. The discovery of the masked palm civet suggests that many species in the province, particularly those in ecological transition zones and marginal areas, remain insufficiently documented, Zhang said.

Beyond species discovery, Zhang's team has developed methods to assess habitats and cultivate ecological corridors for endangered animals. Based on long-term monitoring, researchers have mapped the distribution of key plateau species, including Tibetan antelopes, Tibetan gazelles, Tibetan wild donkeys, wild yaks, white-lipped deer, saker falcons and Himalayan vultures.

The findings have helped identify potential habitats for rare mammals, supported adjustments to national park boundaries and functional zoning, and provided scientific guidance for wildlife habitat protection and ecological restoration. They have also been widely applied in national park planning and management, Zhang said.

Research is also expanding from field monitoring to genetic and microbial studies. Zhang's team has used genomics and metagenomics to study plateau wildlife, helping researchers better understand animals' genetic resources, adaptation mechanisms and health conditions.

Such work is slow and demanding. Because samples from protected wild animals are difficult to obtain, researchers often rely on fresh excrement for genetic analysis. Zhang said team members sometimes have to follow Tibetan antelopes for hours while waiting for them to defecate.

"Fresh feces may look ordinary, but for us, they are extremely valuable samples," he said. "Behind those samples is the scientific support needed for plateau wildlife conservation."

Fieldwork at altitudes of 4,000 to 5,000 meters can be physically demanding for team members, Zhang said. Researchers must first locate the target animals and then follow them patiently without disturbing their natural behavior. Despite the challenges, he said the team remains motivated by the importance of the work.

Zhang came to Qinghai in 1998 and has worked on plateau wildlife conservation for nearly 30 years. The biggest change he has witnessed is that Qinghai has become greener and wildlife more abundant.

"In many places, we can now see large groups of Tibetan antelopes, Tibetan wild donkeys and even wolves," he said. "Animals that were once rarely seen in large groups are now appearing more often."

Looking ahead, Zhang said artificial intelligence will play a growing role in wildlife monitoring. It can help researchers filter empty camera images, improve species identification and, in the future, potentially identify individual animals based on their gait, body shape and other distinct features.

"New technologies and methods are making ecological protection and wildlife research more efficient and accurate, while opening up many new possibilities," he said.

yangzekun@chinadaily.com.cn