Yichang builds wildlife herbarium in Wuling Mountains

By Yan Wanqin, Yichang International Communication Studio

The Wuling Mountain (Hubei) Wildlife Herbarium was completed on June 2, making it the largest wildlife herbarium in the Wuling Mountain area of Yichang City.

The herbarium contains more than 50,000 specimens and provides a unique experience to visitors looking to explore the unique biodiversity of the Wuling Mountains.

The Wuling Mountains is a mountain range in Central China, running from Chongqing Municipality and East Guizhou to West Hunan. The mountain range is home to many ethnic groups, including the Tujia, Miao, Dong, and Bai.

Located in the Wufeng Tujia Autonomous County, the herbarium covers an area of more than 9,000 square meters and houses samples of plants, animals, insects, type specimens, fungi and mosses.

These specimens were collected by staff members of Hubei Wufeng Houhe National Nature Reserve during their fieldwork in the Wuling Mountains. They hold significant value in scientific research and academia.

"The specimens on display are typical of the 3,302 plant species in the Houhe Reserve. Many of them are under first or second-class national protection, and some have extremely small populations. Others are very distinctive local native species," said Mao Yeyong, director of the Hubei Wufeng Houhe National Nature Reserve Administration.

In the herbarium, visitors can see the life of plants through various forms of resin specimens such as roots, leaves, flowers and fruits. Additionally, visitors can observe these plants from 24-hour real-time monitoring systems.

The herbarium offers immersive experiences for visitors to view the specimens up close.

In the audition area, visitors wearing headphones can listen to the calls of rare birds. In front of the holographic display cabinet, 3D animation and aerial photography technology allow visitors to interact with wildlife through screens.