In the vast grasslands of China's Qinghai Province, two cousins are making a big difference for some tiny creatures. Since 2016, Zhou Zengben and Sonam Tsering have been the unsung heroes 🦸♂️🦸♂️ of the endangered Przewalski's gazelles, rescuing and caring for these delicate animals.
Their journey began after a heartbreaking sight in 2015, when they found 17 young gazelles that had perished in severe flooding. Determined to prevent such tragedies, the duo started patrolling around Qinghai Lake, checking on grasslands, and even bringing injured or orphaned calves back home for some TLC ❤️.
Just recently, on a chilly night in March, local herdsmen discovered a baby gazelle stranded in a water channel. Unsure of what to do, they called the cousins, who rushed to the rescue. They warmed the calf by the stove, wrapped it in blankets, and stayed up all night to ensure it survived. By morning, the little gazelle was on its feet and ready to return to the wild!
This calf marked the 59th gazelle they've saved! Many of the rescued are just-born calves who wouldn't survive alone. Zhou and Sonam feed them milk from their own yaks (that's dedication!) and give them names like Dorje, a nine-month-old who loves his milk 🍼.
Feeding the calves is no small feat. Each one drinks four to five bottles of milk a day, and the cost adds up. To keep up with the demand, they sold their yaks to buy Simmental cattle, which produce more milk. Talk about going the extra mile!
The cousins' efforts haven't gone unnoticed. The local government now provides free forage, and they've been honored as \\"Wildlife Conservation Caretakers.\\" Thanks to guardians like them, the gazelle population around Qinghai Lake has grown from just over 200 to more than 3,400! 🎉
\\"We see them every day now,\\" says Sonam with a smile. \\"Groups of over 100 gazelles are a common sight.\\"
With more people joining the mission, the future looks bright for these graceful creatures. 🌟
These cousins show that anyone can make a difference. Their story is a reminder that with passion and dedication, we can protect the natural world around us. 💚
Reference(s):
Cousins volunteer as guardians for endangered Przewalski's gazelles
cgtn.com
