Tibetannet

According to the Tibet Autonomous Region Bureau of Forestry , during the “2016 Tibet Changtang National Natural Preservation Area Tibetan Antelope” activities, scientists confirmed the population as well as migration routes of the animal inside of the protection area over a one-month period. This provided significant support for future protection work related to the Tibetan antelopes.

This time the investigation was conducted by several organizations cooperating together including the Tibet Autonomous Region Bureau of Forestry, the Northwest Endangered Animals Research Institute, the Huanan Endangered Animals Research Institute and other organizations and departments. The scientists went all around the reserve and to the “reproduction house” area found at the base of the Sewu SnowMountain along the Tianshui river inside of the protection area as well as along the main routes of their migration.

The Tibetan antelope is an animal species under class one national protection. It is mainly distributed in Tibet, Qinghai as well as in the western parts of Xinjiang roaming across nearly 800,000 square kilometers of barren land, 80% of its territory is included in the Tibet Changtang protection area.

The head of the Tibet Autonomous Region Bureau of Forestry Animal Protection Department, Zhaxiduoji, saidthat during this round of cooperative research, the group collected data pertaining to antelopes tagged with 15 satellite tracking systems back in 2013. Furthermore, they confirmed on the spot the migration patterns of the antelope as well as information about areas for grazing and reproduction amongst other informat

The observatory research confirmed that there is an area between 50 and 80 square kilometers in size at the base of Sewu Snow Mountain within the Changtang  Protection Area that serves as an area of concentration for reproduction amongst the antelope species. Other than this, it was found that the northern and southern migration routes of the antelopes had major discrepancies. The migration route that the northern antelopes take is very long, between 300 and 400 kilometers, while the migration route the southern antelopes stick to is only about 100 kilometers in length.

Other than this, the group implored unmanned flight survey technology to observe the animal species for the first time. The scientists explained that upon first observation it is clear that the numbers of Tibetan antelope at the base of the Sewu Snow mountain number far above 150,000. However, it is still not confirmed whether antelope that take to varying migration routes belong to the same species or to another sub-species and that for this further investigation with DNA sample analysis will be needed.

The Changtang National Natural Protection Area is located in the north of the Tibet Autonomous Region. It has a total area of 298,000 square kilometers. In recent years, Tibet has intensified the degree with which they protect wild animals. There are more than 40 wild animal species that have been recovered inside of the protection area that are under class two, class one or autonomous region level protection.a