Jiuzhaigou: A Wonderland for Five Unique Species of Wildlife – The
Guardians of Nature Hidden in the Water and the Mountains
Amidst the mountains of southwestern China, Jiuzhaigou, like a piece of emerald crafted by the gods, is renowned for its crystal-clear lakes, cascading waterfalls and pristine forests. What is less well known is that it is a treasure trove of global biodiversity – more than 300 species of wildlife thrive here, 27 of which are classified as nationally rare and protected. infrared camera monitoring since 2020 and the first discovery of desert cats in 2024 have made the world recognize this “natural zoo” anew. The monitoring of infrared cameras since 2020 and the first discovery of the desert cat in 2024 have made the world recognize the ecological value of this “natural zoo”. The following five animals not only represent the most unique wild life force in Jiuzhaigou, but also carry the core codes of the natural ecosystem.
I. Desert cat: the mysterious hunter under the snowy mountains
In December 2024, a piece of scientific news stirred up the ecological world: the infrared camera in Jiuzhaigou National Nature Reserve captured for the first time the figure of the **desert cat**. This national-level protected animal is known as “China's most mysterious feline”, and its movements are so secretive that there are less than 10,000 of them left in the world. The desert cat's fur is sandy yellow, and the black tufts of hair on the tips of its ears are like antennae, helping it to pinpoint the movements of its prey in the cold winds of the plateau. They live alone and have a strong sense of territory, inhabiting the scrubland above 3,000 meters above sea level and feeding on mice, rabbits and small birds. The presence of desert cats signifies the integrity of Jiuzhaigou's ecosystem – only the bottom of the food chain is rich enough to support the survival of top predators.
II. Giant Pandas: Black and White Philosophers in a Sea of Bamboo
As China's most internationally recognized “ecological ambassadors”, the giant pandas** are writing about the resilience of life in the dense forests of Jiuzhaigou. Although this is not a core habitat for pandas, the 80% forest coverage and high altitude bamboo forests provide an ideal shelter for them. An adult giant panda needs to eat 12-18 kilograms of arrowhead bamboo per day. Behind this monotonous dietary strategy is an astonishing energy conversion efficiency: their digestive system is able to extract 15% of the nutrients in the bamboo fibers, and the intestinal flora is even able to convert the bamboo toxins into harmless substances. In Jiuzhaigou, the probability of encountering pandas is comparable to winning the lottery, but researchers have discovered through fecal DNA analysis that there are at least three panda families that are active year-round. The presence of these “black and white hermits” confirms Jiuzhaigou's key role as an ecological corridor for the Minshan mountain system.
III, Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys: a golden orchestra in the canopy
When the morning mist clears from the forest, the cries of the **Chinese snub-nosed monkeys** colony become the most dynamic morning song in Jiuzhaigou. These nationally or regionally protected animals have dazzling golden-colored long hair, and the pale blue faces of their young are even more magical. Unlike the loose communities of other monkeys, the Sichuan snub nosed monkeys have developed a complex “hierarchical society”: small units are formed by the nuclear family, and multiple units are gathered into large groups of hundreds of monkeys, which maintain their emotional ties through grooming and co-habitation behaviors. In the fir forests around the Arrow Bamboo Sea, they leap like acrobats through the 30-meter-high canopy, gnawing open pine cones with their specialized molars, and pinching shoots with the same precision as humans with their deft thumbs. This combination of sociality and survival intelligence makes the Sichuan snub-nosed monkey a living textbook for the study of primate evolution.
IV. Eurasian Otters: Engineers of the Aquatic Network
Downstream of Pearl Beach Falls, **Eurasian otters** are using their webbed paws to push away the blue waves. As a national second-class protected animal, these semi-aquatic hunters are the most sensitive “detector” of water quality in Jiuzhaigou. Their range of activity is up to 15 kilometers of river, and they prey on fish equivalent to 20% of their body weight every day, effectively controlling the size of the aquatic community. Infrared cameras have recorded shocking images of an otter dragging a captured fish up a rock, marking its territory with mucus secreted from its anal glands, a chemical signal that can last for months. Even more amazingly, otters build nests with entrances that are always below the surface of the water, both to guard against predators and to ensure escape routes. The 108 seas of Jiuzhaigou are kept in dynamic balance by their activities, confirming the key role of top predators to ecological health.
V. Hairy Crowned Deer: Elegant Dancer on the Tundra
In the rhododendron thicket near the Changhai Sea, the **Hairy Crowned Deer** is using its wet tongue to clean the mud from its forelegs – a moment captured by an infrared camera that gives the world a peek into the hidden daily life of an endangered species. With tufts of black hair on top of their heads, these Grade 2 nationally protected animals have seen their fangs deteriorate into ornaments, relying instead on their keen sense of hearing to survive at an altitude of 4,000 meters above sea level. In winter, their fur thickens to 8 centimeters to protect them from the -20°C cold, while in summer they take on the role of “alpine gardener,” spreading seeds by feeding on more than 200 species of plants. The population density of the Hairy Crowned Deer is a direct reflection of the ecological pressure on the forest, and their frequent appearance after the 2020 earthquake is proof that the ecological restoration of Jiuzhaigou has been effective.
The Guardian's Inspiration: From “No Disturbance” to Symbiotic Wisdom
The Jiuzhaigou Administration's concept of “no-trace monitoring” provides a model for global nature conservation: by placing more than 300 infrared cameras, researchers have established a comprehensive habitat coverage without disturbing the wildlife. By deploying more than 300 infrared cameras, researchers have built up a database of habitats, migration paths and breeding behavior without disturbing the wildlife. For travelers, maintaining the “invisible boundaries” of the viewing trails and refusing to feed or take flash photography is the most basic respect for these natural spirits.
As the Tibetan legend of Jiuzhaigou tells us, when Wang Xian's precious mirror was shattered into 108 seas, each one reflected the true nature of life. The wildlife here is not only the cornerstone of the ecosystem, but also a mirror for humans to re-recognize their place in nature. Protecting them is essentially guarding the unalienated world of wonder and awe.
