Latest news with #NorthwestChina
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Trail cameras capture once-in-a-lifetime footage of one of Earth's most iconic species — here's what you need to know
Trail cameras capture once-in-a-lifetime footage of one of Earth's most iconic species — here's what you need to know Trail cameras have captured footage of rare snow leopards in the wild. A mother and her cub were spotted in the Gahai-Zecha National Nature Reserve in northwest China. Snow leopards are an endangered species and had previously not been seen at the site since monitoring began in 2018, according to Bastille Post Global. An estimated 1,200 snow leopards live in China. There has been a stronger push in recent years for more biodiversity conservation efforts at the nature reserve, like optimizing monitoring systems and increasing public awareness. This is being done to improve the snow leopard's habitat and ecosystem and strengthen its chances of survival. Trail cameras are a crucial tool for preservation efforts in the wild. They help experts keep track of endangered species and understand population health without direct human intervention. They can also document evidence of rehabilitation for injured animals. In India, conservationists used trail cameras to monitor and protect two tiger cubs in the wild from poachers. They appeared to be abandoned by their mother, but luckily, the cameras captured her returning for her cubs just days later. Trail cameras also helped researchers in Bangladesh spot a leopard, which is a critically endangered species in the country due to habitat loss and poaching. In Saudi Arabia, a rare Egyptian vulture was captured on camera in a national park. Only 50 breeding pairs of the bird are estimated to live in the country. Unfortunately, the people and organizations that can best help wildlife conservation with these tools are typically underfunded. From small nonprofit rescue centers all the way up to the U.S. National Park Service, this industry often struggles to cover necessary costs. But it's critical that we take care of our environment and manage it properly so that more species can thrive and be protected. This has a major impact on our food supply and overall human health. Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Fear and mistrust in Chinese town where more than 200 children poisoned by lead in their food
Taped doors and quiet rooms tell a story about what happened at Heshi Peixin kindergarten. A huge scandal in a tiny town, a barely believable failing, in a place where children should have been safe. As soon as we arrive in the northwestern Chinese town of Maiji, it is clear that almost everyone knows someone who has been impacted. After multiple children were found to have high levels of lead in their blood, police say staff at the private kindergarten had been adding paint powder to food in an apparent bid to make it look more appealing. A total of 233 of the 251 children had unhealthy levels and 201 needed to be hospitalised, say local authorities. Two food samples were seized and both had lead levels 2000 times the legal safe limit. Eight people have been arrested, including the principal and the kindergarten's financial backer. On one street in this town, a series of shops sell clothes and goods for babies and toddlers. The women who work there all knew the principal and many of the families affected. One even used to work there. They tell us how distressing it's been for the community. One lady whispers with tears in her eyes about how a neighbour's child was found to have lead in her blood at 38 times the normal level. Lead poisoning at this level could cause long term injuries for the brain and the central nervous system. What surprises us is how the kindergarten and its staff are by far the sole focus of their anger. In fact more than one person speaks fondly of the principal, citing her extensive charity work and dedication to children. There might have been huge failings at Heshi Peixin, but here they clearly feel there are failings in the system too. Indeed, most affected families have chosen to leave here to seek treatment in major cities, mainly in Xi'an, the closest major city, which is a four-hour drive away. We are told multiple times that the local hospital returned tests for lead showing much lower levels than at the bigger hospitals. 'This is a cover up' On the street corners, it's all they are discussing, tapping into veins of distrust. "I don't know much, but I think this is a cover up," says one woman who we meet at the side of the road. "I just think local government is too dark, they suppress the news." Another young mother talks about how she lived just around the corner from the kindergarten. "Who will be willing to have children? Who dares to send the children to kindergarten?" she asks. "Now if people send children to primary school, the first thing they ask is are you safe? Is the school safe? Can it guarantee the personal safety of our children in the future, right?" There is no clear evidence of a cover-up, but it's telling that it's what people expect. There is clear anxiety about the fact we are here. The police intercept us and hold us up for over an hour. And perhaps that is no surprise because in China a history of food safety scandals is a sore point. Read more from Sky News:Air India crash preliminary report released'At least 798 killed' at Gaza aid points Cooking oil was last year found to be being transported in containers used for fuel without proper cleaning in between. And most famously, in 2008, milk powder laced with the chemical melamine, left six children dead and hundreds of thousands unwell. Food scandals here are a source of real rage and resentment, dangerous things for a government that people cannot choose. Cases like this are just a glimpse into how deep that frustration can run.
Sky News
11-07-2025
- Health
- Sky News
Fear and mistrust in Chinese town where more than 200 children poisoned by lead in their food
Taped doors and quiet rooms tell a story about what happened at Heshi Peixin kindergarten. A huge scandal in a tiny town, a barely believable failing, in a place where children should have been safe. As soon as we arrive in the northwestern Chinese town of Maiji, it is clear that almost everyone knows someone who has been impacted. After multiple children were found to have high levels of lead in their blood, police say staff at the private kindergarten had been adding paint powder to food in an apparent bid to make it look more appealing. A total of 233 of the 251 children had unhealthy levels and 201 needed to be hospitalised, say local authorities. Two food samples were seized and both had lead levels 2000 times the legal safe limit. Eight people have been arrested, including the principal and the kindergarten's financial backer. On one street in this town, a series of shops sell clothes and goods for babies and toddlers. The women who work there all knew the principal and many of the families affected. One even used to work there. They tell us how distressing it's been for the community. One lady whispers with tears in her eyes about how a neighbour's child was found to have lead in her blood at 38 times the normal level. Lead poisoning at this level could cause long term injuries for the brain and the central nervous system. What surprises us is how the kindergarten and its staff are by far the sole focus of their anger. In fact more than one person speaks fondly of the principal, citing her extensive charity work and dedication to children. There might have been huge failings at Heshi Peixin, but here they clearly feel there are failings in the system too. Indeed, most affected families have chosen to leave here to seek treatment in major cities, mainly in Xi'an, the closest major city, which is a four-hour drive away. We are told multiple times that the local hospital returned tests for lead showing much lower levels than at the bigger hospitals. 'This is a cover up' On the street corners, it's all they are discussing, tapping into veins of distrust. "I don't know much, but I think this is a cover up," says one woman who we meet at the side of the road. "I just think local government is too dark, they suppress the news." Another young mother talks about how she lived just around the corner from the kindergarten. "Who will be willing to have children? Who dares to send the children to kindergarten?" she asks. "Now if people send children to primary school, the first thing they ask is are you safe? Is the school safe? Can it guarantee the personal safety of our children in the future, right?" There is no clear evidence of a cover-up, but it's telling that it's what people expect. There is clear anxiety about the fact we are here. The police intercept us and hold us up for over an hour. And perhaps that is no surprise because in China a history of food safety scandals is a sore point. Cooking oil was last year found to be being transported in containers used for fuel without proper cleaning in between. And most famously, in 2008, milk powder laced with the chemical melamine, left six children dead and hundreds of thousands unwell. Food scandals here are a source of real rage and resentment, dangerous things for a government that people cannot choose.
The Independent
27-06-2025
- Science
- The Independent
Rare species return to Qilian Mountains
The Qilian Mountains in Northwest China have come nearly full circle from four decades ago when the flora and fauna were threatened by deforestation, grazing and poaching. The 620-mile mountain range separating Qinghai and Gansu provinces is today hailed as an oasis surrounded by desert. The towering peaks of the Qilian Mountains capture warm, moist air from the southeast, creating abundant precipitation. This climate and the various ecological environments in the area have fostered diverse habitats for numerous wildlife species, including snow leopards, wild yaks and black-necked cranes. 'We came across two snow leopards during a patrol,' recalled Lang Wenrui, deputy director of the Sunan branch of the Zhangye ecology and environment bureau, which administers part of the mountain range. 'They were drinking by a water source, only about 16 feet away from us.' Lang, a photography enthusiast, spends most of his year patrolling the Qilian Mountains. 'I've been searching for snow leopards for 15 years during patrols,' he said. 'In the first 10 years, I didn't see a single one, but in the past five years, I've encountered over a dozen.' The snow leopard population in the Qilian Mountains has been rapidly recovering, an epitome of the results of continuous conservation efforts. 'Sightings of snow leopards in the wild are more frequent, and the range within which these leopards make their presence known is steadily expanding,' said Pei Wen, director of the management centre of Gansu's Qilian Mountain National Nature Reserve. The number of snow leopards in Gansu's Qilian Mountain and Yanchiwan national nature reserves has reached approximately 700, according to Ma Duifang, head of the wildlife management department at the Zhangye branch of the Gansu Qilian Mountain National Park Administration. Restoring the snow leopard population is crucial, Ma said. 'Snow leopards are a flagship and umbrella species in the Qilian Mountains, sitting at the top of the ecosystem's food chain. They are closely linked to many other wildlife species in the region,' he said. 'For example, the bearded vulture, which is not a strong hunter, relies on the carcasses of prey caught by snow leopards as a vital food source. Meanwhile, the populations of blue sheep, red deer and musk deer — primary prey for snow leopards — are kept in check by their predation.' He said snow leopards are like 'the thermometer of the alpine ecosystem'. 'When their population structure and numbers are balanced, it signals a healthy ecosystem. Conversely, if their numbers are declining or they're on the brink of extinction, it suggests there are broader issues with the environment,' he said. In 2017, the Qilian Mountains were designated as a pilot national park, covering 19,380 square miles. The region was divided into core protection and general control zones, and residents in the core protection zone were encouraged to participate in ecological migration. 'The aim is to preserve a complete natural ecosystem for future generations,' said Guo Shengxiang, deputy director of the Qilian Mountain National Nature Reserve's management centre. The government provided the migrants homes and subsidies to offset grazing bans, and offered them positions as forest rangers or alternative livelihood training. 'In the Gansu section of Qilian Mountain National Park, we've employed 2,425 forest rangers, most of whom are local migrants,' Guo said. Ma Jiancheng, head of the Xiangyangtai resource management centre of Sidalong station, which is part of the Qilian Mountain reserve, has been working as a forest ranger for 26 years. Each month, he and his colleagues spend at least 20 days patrolling deep in the mountains at altitudes above 9,840 feet. Now, their work is empowered by technology, as each ranger is equipped with a programme on their phones to record their patrol routes. If they spot wildlife or signs of human activity, they immediately take photos and upload them to the programme. 'Moreover, the rangers regularly conduct aerial patrols using drones, and video monitoring towers and infrared cameras have been set up to better monitor wildlife movements, human activities and fire warnings,' Ma Jiancheng said. 'The results of the environmental and ecological protection efforts over the years have been very evident. Nowadays, we often see wildlife such as musk deer, red deer, blue sheep, blue eared pheasants, golden eagles and even snow leopards during patrol,' he added. Data from the Qilian Mountain reserve's management centre shows that the reserve is now home to 360 species of wildlife, including 24 species under national first-class protection.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Chinese paraglider accidentally swept more than 28,000 ft above ground
A 55-year-old Chinese man was accidentally swept more than 28,000 feet over Northwest China while testing a paraglider harness. A powerful updraft of wind lifted him far above the tallest buildings in the world. NBC News' Steve Patterson has more on the dramatic accident.
