章 86: Chapter 652: The Story of the White-Headed Langur
Fang Ye said, "The dilemma faced by giant pandas at that time was far more than just bamboo flowering and the simple fact of having no food to eat and starving.
After conducting investigations, researchers found over 20,000 animal traps in a certain area.
Although pandas didn't have much culinary or medicinal value, so poaching of giant pandas wasn't as severe, these traps set for other animals could also ensnare pandas. A slight misstep could result in broken limbs or even death.
Moreover, at that time, people's awareness of ecological protection was generally weak. Some county leaders even said, 'If people can't eat their fill, why bother protecting giant pandas?'
In some villagers' homes, over 400 giant panda skins were confiscated, along with some golden snub-nosed monkey skins."
"Wow!"
The surrounding tourists exclaimed in shock.
400 giant panda skins. How many wild giant pandas are there now? Around 1,000?
With so many giant panda skins, one can imagine how dangerous their situation was back then.
"Of course, there were still some kind-hearted villagers who lived by the simple wisdom passed down by their ancestors, understanding the concept of sustainable development, even though the term didn't exist back then.
When pandas came to their homes seeking help, these villagers would provide food for them. In those days, there were no convenient roads in the protected areas, and outsiders were unfamiliar with the terrain. When researchers went into the mountains to search for giant pandas, villagers would voluntarily lead the way. Some villagers even directly participated in rescuing the pandas, carrying out critically endangered pandas.
Fang Ye continued, "Animal traps were not the main factor. The most crucial issue was the loss and fragmentation of their habitat!
Earlier, I mentioned that pandas aren't afraid of bamboo flowering, but that's based on the premise of intact habitats.
Road construction, deforestation, land cultivation, dam construction—panda habitats were fragmented into small pieces, like isolated islands.
Previously, when the bamboo on one mountain flowered, pandas could go to another mountain. But now, due to roads, farmland, and deforestation, they couldn't cross over, leading to starvation.
This brings us to a person, Professor Pan.
At the time, people thought that with bamboo flowering and pandas starving, the solution was to capture all these wild pandas and raise them in captivity to save them. The country planned to establish thirteen captive breeding centers and had already captured many pandas.
However, after Professor Pan's investigation and research, it was discovered that although there was a significant die-off of bamboo, it wasn't to the extent of causing pandas to starve. Photos of dead pandas were taken in areas where bamboo didn't flower.
Facing pressure, Professor Pan wrote a detailed research report opposing the captive breeding of wild pandas. He argued that such actions would disrupt the wild panda population structure and could even lead to their cessation of reproduction.
Due to the comprehensive nature of his report, the plans for captive breeding centers were halted. It can be said that he single-handedly saved the fate of the panda population."
Liu Xueqing listened with a sense of awe!
Just imagining all the pandas being captured and raised in captivity made her realize the dire consequences.
The Japanese crested ibis was a cautionary tale—when the last few individuals were captured, their breeding attempts failed, leading to their extinction.
Wild pandas have a strong ability to reproduce in the wild, but in captivity, they become indifferent.
"In the 1980s, deforestation, especially in the 1990s when the national timber market opened, led to extensive logging. The survival of pandas was greatly threatened. Fortunately, the establishment of nature reserves halted the deforestation.
Protecting animals and their habitats is fundamental. Captive breeding is just a remedial measure.
However, there is a new threat now. Overgrazing causes livestock to nibble on bamboo, changing the panda's habitat. With the increasing demand for meat, grazing has intensified, leading to the degradation and disappearance of one-third of panda habitats in some areas."
Fang Ye saw everyone deep in thought and continued, "When we talk about protecting animals, it's not enough to just study the animals and their environment. People are also a crucial factor.
Protecting animals doesn't mean neglecting human livelihoods; it's about changing the economic structure of protected areas as much as possible, finding alternative economies that benefit both residents and the environment. Community involvement in conservation is the best form of protection.
For example, in Qinghai's Angsai Big Cat Valley, herders' livestock were preyed upon by snow leopards. The reserve hired herders as environmental monitors, set up infrared cameras on the mountains to monitor snow leopards' activities, provided scientific data, and developed eco-tourism. Experienced herders took tourists to see snow leopards.
In Sichuan's Guanba area, which previously relied on logging and hunting, leading to environmental degradation, they now try to replace logging with beekeeping. As the environment improved, various rare animals returned, the population of cold-water fish increased, and incomes rose.
Let me tell you another story about Professor Pan.
After concluding his study of wild pandas in the Qinling Mountains in 1996, he shifted his focus to the white-headed langurs in Guangxi.
At that time, the natural environment in that area had also suffered significant damage. The population of white-headed langurs was less than a hundred.
Professor Pan found that local residents habitually cut down trees for firewood and cooking. Many households had piles of firewood in their yards, and the surrounding land had been developed to saturation. The annual demand for firewood far exceeded the natural growth rate of trees.
If this situation continued, not only would trees continue to decrease, but the survival of white-headed langurs would face even greater challenges. The environment would deteriorate, and local residents would become increasingly impoverished.
Therefore, after much consideration, Professor Pan realized that to protect the white-headed langurs, he first had to ensure that people could eat without cutting down trees.
He initially invested 1,500 yuan of his own money to help two families convert to biogas, but due to lack of experience and insufficient funds, the results were not ideal.
Later, he received a prize of 100,000 yuan. He used the entire amount to build biogas pits in the village.
After posting notices to purchase cow dung, every household eagerly provided dung, quickly realizing the benefits of biogas. The Ministry of Agriculture later funded the construction of biogas pits in over a dozen villages. From then on, the centuries-old practice of chopping firewood for cooking changed in the local community.
When Professor Pan asked again, the villagers all said they wouldn't cut down trees anymore. Using biogas was much more convenient. Cutting trees was like killing piglets; it was a desperate act due to poverty.
Without having to trek through mountains to cut trees, villagers had time for other activities. They started growing sugarcane in the fields. Previously impoverished, their incomes increased, and their living standards greatly improved.
The local vegetation gradually recovered, with more trees. The white-headed langurs' range expanded, and their population increased year by year. Now, the total number has reached around 1,000."
The tourists listened intently, praising the efforts.
"Amazing!"
"What an extraordinary scientist, unmatched in the nation!"
"Being responsible for animals is also being responsible for people. Living in harmony with nature is our ultimate goal."
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