The people protect the North China Leopards on Taihang Mountains in North China's Shanxi Province
By Li Hao, Published: 2021-05-13 01:22:44
Protection team members walk on the edge of the mountain to check the infrared trigger camera. Photo: Li Hao/GT
Editor's Note:
The North China Leopard, also known as the Chinese Leopard, is classified as a first-class national protected animal in China. The Taihang Mountains, which run across Beijing and the provinces of Hebei, Shanxi and Henan, used to be the natural habitat of the leopard.

This is a large carnivore predator at the top of the food chain in the forest ecosystem of North China which has an important impact on the composition, function and sustainability of biodiversity in the region. Carrying out basic ecological research about the North China leopard and its feeding habits has great significance for guiding biodiversity conservation and ecosystem restoration in North China.

Composed of a group of eco-lovers and scientists, the Chinese Felid Conservation Alliance (CFCA), a non-governmental environmental organization dedicated to the protection of the wild leopard in China, has been investigating and protecting wild leopards for many years. In recent years, they have mainly studied and protected the North China leopard and the ecosystem of the Taihang Mountains area.

The ‘old leopard team’ is the fruit of the cooperation between the CFCA and the local government. It has hired local villagers as members of the protection team to perform daily patrols and check infrared cameras on the North China leopard protection area on the Taihang Mountains, at Heshun county in Jinzhong city, Shanxi Province. Photos: Li Hao/GT

The protection team members check the images captured by the camera. Photo: Li Hao/GT
A protection team member checks the images captured by the camera. Photo: Li Hao/GT
A protection team member on the mountain road. Photo: Li Hao/GT
A member cleans up the branches on the mountain to increase the road connectivity for the animal. Photo: Li Hao/GT
A protection team member stands in front of his house. In addition to their own farmland work, they also have to go to the mountains regularly to prevent poaching and check infrared trigger cameras. Photo: Li Hao/GT
Photo: Li Hao/GT
A protection team member prepares food for the rescued animals. Photo: Li Hao/GT
Team members stand for a group photo in front of the container at the CFCA protection base. The container is at the foot of a mountain in Heshun county, where members of the protection team and visiting volunteers live. Photo: Li Hao/GT
Photo: Li Hao/GT
Signs can often be seen in Heshun county to remind passing vehicles about the wild animals. The impact of roads on animals has always been the focus of the CFCA. The team members hope that one day they can see the North China leopards spread back around Beijing, where they once lived. Photo: Li Hao/GT
A local woman loosens the soil behind the mountains. Due to the gentle mountain terrain, the forests of Heshun county are relatively easy to access. This is the favorite habitat of the North China leopards which also makes local poaching prevention more difficult. Photo: Li Hao/GT
A member of the protection team observes a black stork. Nowadays, many locals will contact the protection team when they find injured wild animals and the team will take them to the rescue center for treatment and later release. Photo: Li Hao/GT
Scan the QR code on the vinegar bottle with a mobile phone and a North China leopard will show on the screen. Thanks to the efforts of the protection personnel, the local people in Heshun gradually pay attention to the North China leopard and even regard it as a label for their community. Photo: Li Hao/GT
Standing in the Taihang Mountains in Heshun county, a member of CFCA North China Leopard protection team looks into the distance. In these mountains, countless species including the North China leopard are guarded by a group of people like him. Photo: Li Hao/GT