🐏 Exciting news from the heights of Sichuan! A team of researchers recently captured footage of 16 wild Tibetan argali, a rare and protected species, in Shiqu County of Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. This marks the first time in several years that these majestic creatures have been spotted in the wild in Sichuan Province.
The joint team from Sichuan Changsha Gongma National Nature Reserve and China West Normal University stumbled upon the herd while conducting a biodiversity survey at a staggering altitude of over 4,700 meters. The video shows the robust argali grazing peacefully, their keen eyes ever watchful of their surroundings. When they sense something amiss, they dash across the plateau with impressive speed, bringing life to the rugged landscape. 🏔️
The Tibetan argali is a first-class state-protected animal, known to roam high-altitude grasslands, deserts, and meadows between 1,500 and 5,500 meters above sea level. These mountain dwellers prefer semi-open rocky terrains and rolling hills. In recent years, thanks to improvements in the ecological environment, sightings of key protected animals like the Tibetan argali and white-lipped deer have become increasingly common in Shiqu County. 🌿
It's heartwarming to see nature thriving again! Let's hope for more sightings of these magnificent animals in the future. ✨
Reference(s):
Wild population of Tibetan argali spotted again in Shiqu County
cgtn.com
