Thanks to China's steadfast efforts to protect its ecological environment, the northwestern city of Yan'an has been able to become a great habitat for species of wildlife that haven't been seen for many years.

In the last two years, deer, wild boar, hare and quail have made their way back to Yan'an. And in June of 2018, cameras in Ziwuling forest area recorded 28 North China leopards, one of China's most endangered animals. Carnivores like leopards have a high demands for their environment.

"This means we must have done something right," says Wang Junyi, director of Laoshan National Forest Park. "People no longer regard forestry workers as fell timbers, because felling has been entirely called off since 1999." 

To protect the area, a group of rangers have already made themselves part of it. Patrolling the forests, arresting criminals who chop down trees, rescuing injured animals, and preventing forest fires are all part of their routine jobs, and on-call assignments.

Cao Chunhe is the captain of rangers in Laoshan National Forest Park. For him and other rangers, work time is never fixed. "Sometimes it is a call at midnight. Sometimes we cannot be home for days. We would go on shift anytime, rain or shine," said Cao.

Each person protects 130,000 acres of forest, and it's anything but easy.

Yet Cao has been committed to his job for 26 years.

"I like this forest. I'll keep doing my job and doing it well," he said.

(Cover image via VCG, designed by CGTN)

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