Chen Jinliang: Mountain Patrolman
On a quiet December morning, the sun’s rays climb up the green hills of Dalaoling National Nature Reserve. Clad in his work clothes, his equipment on his back, 43-year-old Chen Jinliang turns on his megaphone and starts his day of forest patrol.
Nature lover Chen, who has a PhD in wildlife conservation, came to Yichang in 2008 to work at the Dalaoling National Nature Reserve.
Dalaoling National Nature Reserve.
Dalaoling National Nature Reserve is located in Yiling District, Yichang City, deep in the mountains on the north bank of Xiling Gorge. Various types of wild animal live in the reserve where Chen is stationed for most of the year. The roads are rough and steep.
Chen’s management station runs a 24-hour surveillance system which both protects and monitors the abundant plants and animals in Dalaoling National Nature Reserve. Camping, picnicking and other activities that threaten the ecological balance are banned. "The equipment only covers one-third of the reserve, so we have to do a lot of the monitoring ourselves," said Chen. The 29 members in his protection team take turns to carry out night patrols.
Chen Jinliang patrols the mountain with his protection team.
Chen explained that, previously, staff had to depend on written records of animal movements. Now infrared cameras record the distribution, appearance, activity, behavior and other characteristics of wild animals in the reserve in different seasons.
Small Indian Civet captured by infrared camera in Dalaoling National Nature Reserve.
