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The Guardian
04-07-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Experience: I was attacked by a wild tiger
It was a chilly autumnal morning in October 2009 when I woke in my tent in Primorsky Krai, Russia, near the border with North Korea and China. My team of six had been catching wild Siberian tigers with snares and putting radio collars on them before releasing them, so we could better understand their behaviour and protect the endangered species. I'd been working as a tiger biologist for 14 years, and had tagged about 70 tigers with my team. Each morning, we'd travel in pairs to check the snares – they consisted of heavy-duty cables attached to a tree. Each was equipped with a radio transmitter that would alert us to a capture so we could anaesthetise the animal as quickly as possible to minimise their stress, before fitting a collar and releasing it back into the wild. This particular morning, there had been no alerts of a capture, but we still had to follow protocol. As we were one team member short, I checked one trail of snares on my own while my colleagues travelled to check the others. I grabbed my coffee and my bear spray, and headed out, leaving my wife and toddler, who were visiting me, in the tent. Everything seemed fine. Then, as I approached the last snare, about 2km from camp, I heard a deep, low growl, and immediately knew that we'd caught a tiger. I wanted to get close enough to estimate its weight and sex before heading back to retrieve the rest of the team. I put my coffee down and inched forward, confident the tiger would be tied to the tree, unable to attack. I took out my handheld signal flare, just in case. I inched closer. When I was about 40 metres away, the tiger tried to run away. But he was tied to the tree, unable to flee. I then started to slowly walk away, having seen he was an adult male weighing about 400lbs (181kg). But when he realised he couldn't run away, he charged. At that moment, he got free. I popped the flare, waiting for it to light, fully aware I could die at any moment. I could see every detail as he came for me, running at 30mph, roaring, with 3in claws extending from paws the size of dinner plates reaching towards me with each lunge. He hit me square in the chest and I flew back about 10 metres. Down on the ground, looking into the maw of the roaring tiger standing on my shoulders, I put my left hand up defensively. He bit through it several times. Bones crunched. I could hear them, feel them. I realised I still had my flare. With the flame alight, I jammed it right under his chin. He immediately took off. I started running back to camp. I could feel myself going into shock. Everything around me started going hazy. But I refused to survive a tiger attack only to die of shock. I bent down to lower my head between my legs and yelled to increase blood flow to my brain. My wife heard me and tried to reach me on the radio to find out what was happening. When there was no answer, she came running to me, our toddler on her shoulders. I remember seeing my daughter and feeling worried that she might be upset by all the excitement, and that I wouldn't be able to explain to her what was going on. Sign up to Inside Saturday The only way to get a look behind the scenes of the Saturday magazine. Sign up to get the inside story from our top writers as well as all the must-read articles and columns, delivered to your inbox every weekend. after newsletter promotion When we got back to camp, our veterinarian did some first aid on my hand, then took me to hospital, where I needed to have multiple surgeries. I had about four bite wounds that went clean through my hand. After a week in the hospital, I returned to work, and have continued to protect wild tigers ever since, now working as the chief scientist for Panthera, a global wild cat conservation organisation. Luckily, I've made a complete recovery. Before the attack, I had anxious dreams about being attacked by a tiger or a bear. But, since then, they've stopped. I had faced the worst and survived. I've not had PTSD or nightmares, but I often recall the charge, reimagining each moment in vivid detail. I feel incredibly lucky to have lived through what could have ended my life. And it didn't scare me away from my job. Protecting tigers has been the greatest honour of my life and I'll continue doing it for as long as I can. As told to Lauren Crosby Medlicott Do you have an experience to share? Email experience@
The Guardian
04-07-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Experience: I was attacked by a wild tiger
It was a chilly autumnal morning in October 2009 when I woke in my tent in Primorsky Krai, Russia, near the border with North Korea and China. My team of six had been catching wild Siberian tigers with snares and putting radio collars on them before releasing them, so we could better understand their behaviour and protect the endangered species. I'd been working as a tiger biologist for 14 years, and had tagged about 70 tigers with my team. Each morning, we'd travel in pairs to check the snares – they consisted of heavy-duty cables attached to a tree. Each was equipped with a radio transmitter that would alert us to a capture so we could anaesthetise the animal as quickly as possible to minimise their stress, before fitting a collar and releasing it back into the wild. This particular morning, there had been no alerts of a capture, but we still had to follow protocol. As we were one team member short, I checked one trail of snares on my own while my colleagues travelled to check the others. I grabbed my coffee and my bear spray, and headed out, leaving my wife and toddler, who were visiting me, in the tent. Everything seemed fine. Then, as I approached the last snare, about 2km from camp, I heard a deep, low growl, and immediately knew that we'd caught a tiger. I wanted to get close enough to estimate its weight and sex before heading back to retrieve the rest of the team. I put my coffee down and inched forward, confident the tiger would be tied to the tree, unable to attack. I took out my handheld signal flare, just in case. I inched closer. When I was about 40 metres away, the tiger tried to run away. But he was tied to the tree, unable to flee. I then started to slowly walk away, having seen he was an adult male weighing about 400lbs (181kg). But when he realised he couldn't run away, he charged. At that moment, he got free. I popped the flare, waiting for it to light, fully aware I could die at any moment. I could see every detail as he came for me, running at 30mph, roaring, with 3in claws extending from paws the size of dinner plates reaching towards me with each lunge. He hit me square in the chest and I flew back about 10 metres. Down on the ground, looking into the maw of the roaring tiger standing on my shoulders, I put my left hand up defensively. He bit through it several times. Bones crunched. I could hear them, feel them. I realised I still had my flare. With the flame alight, I jammed it right under his chin. He immediately took off. I started running back to camp. I could feel myself going into shock. Everything around me started going hazy. But I refused to survive a tiger attack only to die of shock. I bent down to lower my head between my legs and yelled to increase blood flow to my brain. My wife heard me and tried to reach me on the radio to find out what was happening. When there was no answer, she came running to me, our toddler on her shoulders. I remember seeing my daughter and feeling worried that she might be upset by all the excitement, and that I wouldn't be able to explain to her what was going on. Sign up to Inside Saturday The only way to get a look behind the scenes of the Saturday magazine. Sign up to get the inside story from our top writers as well as all the must-read articles and columns, delivered to your inbox every weekend. after newsletter promotion When we got back to camp, our veterinarian did some first aid on my hand, then took me to hospital, where I needed to have multiple surgeries. I had about four bite wounds that went clean through my hand. After a week in the hospital, I returned to work, and have continued to protect wild tigers ever since, now working as the chief scientist for Panthera, a global wild cat conservation organisation. Luckily, I've made a complete recovery. Before the attack, I had anxious dreams about being attacked by a tiger or a bear. But, since then, they've stopped. I had faced the worst and survived. I've not had PTSD or nightmares, but I often recall the charge, reimagining each moment in vivid detail. I feel incredibly lucky to have lived through what could have ended my life. And it didn't scare me away from my job. Protecting tigers has been the greatest honour of my life and I'll continue doing it for as long as I can. As told to Lauren Crosby Medlicott Do you have an experience to share? Email experience@
Forbes
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Overwatch 2's New Mythic Weapon Will Be Available When Season 17 Goes Live
Mythic skin in Overwatch 2. There's going to be something brand new in terms of Overwatch 2 skins when Season 17 goes live on June 24. For the first time, the latest Mythic weapon skin will be available right when the season starts. That means you won't have to wait until the midseason patch as usual for the new Mythic weapon to drop. We already knew a bit about the Mythic skin that will be available in Season 17. But there will also be a new Reaper Mythic weapon to unlock too. Let's take a peek at both of these Mythics that are coming to Overwatch 2 in Season 17. Mythic skin is called Horang. It's all about "channeling the spirit of the Siberian tiger." The customization options pay tribute to "the timeless tale of Sister Sun and Brother Moon," Blizzard said. As ever, it costs 80 Mythic Shards to fully unlock the Mythic skin. You'll be able to unlock it in four stages, and here's how Blizzard describes those: Want another look at Mythic skin? Of course you do. Here you go: Mythic skin in Overwatch 2. As for the Reaper Mythic weapon, it's called Steel Death. I love it already. Blizzard says this version of the Hellfire Shotguns have "sharp edges forged in soulfire and destruction echoing the cold inevitability of his wrath." Cool. Here's how the studio describes the four levels of Reaper's Mythic weapon skin: The Mythic weapon looks pretty sick, I have to admit, even if it is – like Reaper himself – a bit edgelordy. Here's what the weapon looks like, along with an utterly rad-looking kill effect: Reaper's Mythic weapon skin in Overwatch 2. The kill effect for Reaper's Mythic weapon skin in Overwatch 2. Look, I'm not very good with Reaper. I am unlikely to ever play him much in Quick Play, Comp or Stadium. But Mystery Heroes is where I live most of the time and this Mythic weapon looks rad as heck, so I am probably going to pick it up as soon as possible. As for the Mythic, that's cool too. In recent seasons, I've been prioritizing Mythic weapons over Mythic skins, largely because you can actually see the former on screen almost all the time. That's changed a bit with the advent of Stadium and its third-person mode. And, since is one of my faves and I have some Mythic shards to spare, I might snap up Mythic skin too. There's a lot more coming in Season 17 of Overwatch 2, so check out my blog for more of what we know so far. Follow my blog for coverage of video games (including Overwatch 2) and word games. It helps me out a lot! Follow me on Bluesky too! It's fun there. And make sure to subscribe to my newsletter, Pastimes!
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Yahoo
China is building the world's largest national parks system
China plans to overtake the United States by building the world's largest national park system, a network of wilderness bigger than Texas. Although China only created its first national park four years ago—some 149 years after the US did the same—it claims that by 2035 it will have 49 parks covering 272 million acres, triple the size of the U.S. National Park System. China has already opened five national parks, totaling 57 million acres. Collectively, the parks span alpine peaks, tropical rainforests, remote glaciers, vast deserts, and high-altitude wetlands. They also protect rare animals like the Giant Panda, Siberian Tiger, and Asian Elephant. According to the Chinese Government, these parks are also preserving cultural heritage, boosting local economies, and enticing tourists to experience the country's diverse landscapes. While domestic tourists flock to China's wilderness destinations, few foreigners follow suit, says Jun Wen, associate professor of tourism at Macau University of Science and Technology. Instead, most international visitors focus on China's giant, historic cities, like Beijing, Shanghai, and Xi'an. However, Wen believes that will change as China expands its park system; the country will become world-renowned for nature-based tourism. (Our ancestors walked these trails hundreds of years ago. Now you can too.) China's national park system will eclipse the US version, says Mei Zhang, CEO of Wild China, one of the country's biggest tour companies. Being launched so recently gives it the advantage of learning from the mistakes of other park systems. 'While the United States pioneered the Yellowstone model—preserving vast wilderness areas—it also made significant missteps,' Zhang says. 'Such as enclosing land and forcefully displacing Indigenous communities to create an image of 'pristine' wilderness. In contrast, China has the chance to chart its own course. By fostering a symbiotic relationship between local communities and wildlife conservation, China can create a national park system that integrates cultural vitality with ecological stewardship.' That is a lofty goal, but then again, so is building the world's biggest national park system, from scratch in 14 years. China has a history of record-breaking mega-projects, from the world's largest dam to the planet's longest bridge, and an unrivalled high-speed rail network. Now China is channeling its vast wealth, ambition, and capability into protecting and showcasing its extraordinary, yet overlooked natural scenery. Here's a look at five national parks in China worth visiting now. Wen recommends visiting Giant Panda National Park, which covers 6.6 million acres of mountainous land in Central China's Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu Provinces. It protects the habitats of most of the country's 1,900 wild Giant Pandas; a species found only in China. The best time to see this park is between April and October when the weather is warmest, vegetation is thickest, and Giant Pandas are most active. All year round, parkgoers can see pandas and learn about these unique creatures at the park's panda research centers at Wolong and Dujiangyan. 'Visitors have the opportunity to explore panda habitats on foot and even volunteer to assist panda caretakers,' Wen says. 'They can observe the daily activities of pandas, including climbing trees, playing, eating, and tumbling.' Good to know: Giant Panda National Park can be reached by flying into Chengdu and then heading two hours north by bus. The park is quite isolated; so, it is most easily explored on a guided tour booked with a Chinese tour company. In addition to Giant Pandas, China's national parks aim to save rare animal species from extinction. Zhou says the endangered Amur leopards and Amur tigers are now protected in the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park. Located in northeast China, this national park covers 3.5 million acres along the borders with Russia and North Korea, and it eclipses the size of any national park in the lower 48 States of the U.S. 'Through removing fencing in forest zones, reconnecting fragmented habitats, and implementing ecological translocation, the park has restored essential migration and reproduction corridors for these species,' Zhou says. Good to know: Visitors can observe some of these scientific projects up close by booking guided tours of this national park with Chinese tour operators like Benchmark. The isolated park can be reached by flying from Beijing or Shanghai into Yanji, followed by a three-to-four-hour bus ride. (China just had a museum building spree. Here are 6 of the best.) In northwest China's Qinghai Province, Sanjiangyuan National Park is 47 million acres and larger than Florida, making it China's largest park. The editor of Travel China Guide tour company, Catherine He says Sanjiangyuan is very diverse geographically. Dramatic mountains loom above glaciers, high-altitude wetlands, grassland meadows, desert plateaus, and mirrored lakes. Sanjiangyuan is called 'China's Water Tower' because it is the source region of the Yangtze, Mekong, and Yellow rivers, says He. While exploring its pristine wilderness, visitors may spot unique snow leopards and Tibetan antelopes. According to the Chinese Government, this new park is why the antelope's population has soared to 70,000. Good to know: Enter this vast park by flying into Xining or Golmud from big Chinese cities Xi'an, Shanghai, or Chengdu, and then take a relatively short bus or taxi ride. By visiting during the warmer months from May to September, visitors can hike its many trails in comfort, witness the park's grasslands in bloom, and increase their chances of seeing wildlife. The new Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park is also impressive, according to Aliana Leong, Hospitality Professor from Macau University of Science and Technology. It envelops 1 million acres of Hainan, China's southernmost province. Sometimes called the 'Hawaii of China', Hainan is a picturesque island fringed by pretty beaches and with a hilly, verdant interior. 'This new national park has China's most diverse, best preserved, and largest contiguous area of tropical rainforest,' Leong says. Within its lush expanse lives 33 percent of China's reptile species, 38 percent of its bird species, 20 percent of its mammal species, and more than 3,500 plant species. Leong adds, 'It is the only habitat for the Hainan gibbon and a treasure trove of tropical biodiversity.' Good to know: This park is quickly reached by bus or taxi from either of Hainan's two international airports. Embrace its untamed vibe by joining a whitewater rafting tour through the commanding Wuzhishan Grand Canyon. (China's other great wall is impressive, too—and steeped in history.) If you're on social media, then you may have seen eye-catching images and videos of Wuyi Mountain National Park. Covering 316,000 acres of mountainous terrain in Fujian and Jiangxi Provinces, it is known for its unusual Danxia landscapes, where red stone cliffs, gorges, and peaks contrast sharply against dense, green forests. This park encompasses the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Mount Wuyi, one of China's prettiest and most revered mountains, says Catherine He. Good to know: Visitors can follow spectacular hiking trails, go bamboo rafting on Jiuqu Stream, wander splendid tea tree groves, or admire historic mountainside temples and monasteries, she recommends. China already has thousands of protected nature reserves, says Ralf Buckley, emeritus professor of ecotourism at Australia's Griffith University. However, unlike most of the world's top national parks, those reserves don't qualify as national parks under the stringent system of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). So China designed its new national parks to meet the IUCN criteria by making them 'mainly for conservation, with limited tourism under strict regulation, and no residential housing'. China's national park system is already improving wildlife preservation, says Bin Zhou, a tourism professor at China's Ningbo University. 'China is among the most biodiverse countries in the world, while also facing significant threats to its ecosystems,' Zhou says. 'The (park system) enables the designation of high-level protection zones in key ecological function areas, critical habitats, and ecological security barriers. Ensuring the long-term survival of flagship species such as the giant panda, Amur tiger and leopard, and Asian elephant, along with their habitats.' The new parks have helped increase China's populations of 200 species of rare animals and about 100 endangered plant species, announced in May 2025. (21 photos of China's best UNESCO World Heritage sites.) China's national park system is also motivated by cultural heritage preservation, economic development, and public education, says Aliana Leong, a tourism professor at Macau University of Science and Technology. 'Many of China's national parks are rich in cultural and historical significance, so expanding the national park system helps protect ancient villages, traditional cultures, and historical sites,' she says. 'National parks also drive local economic growth through tourism. They create job opportunities, increase revenue, and promote sustainable development in rural and remote areas. (Finally) they serve as outdoor classrooms, raising public awareness of environmental protection and cultural heritage.' Andrew Nelson is the author of National Geographic's recently published travel book Here Not There. Follow him on Instagram.
National Geographic
13-06-2025
- Business
- National Geographic
China is building the world's largest national parks system
China plans to overtake the United States by building the world's largest national park system, a network of wilderness bigger than Texas. Although China only created its first national park four years ago—some 149 years after the US did the same—it claims that by 2035 it will have 49 parks covering 272 million acres, triple the size of the U.S. National Park System. China has already opened five national parks, totaling 57 million acres. Collectively, the parks span alpine peaks, tropical rainforests, remote glaciers, vast deserts, and high-altitude wetlands. They also protect rare animals like the Giant Panda, Siberian Tiger, and Asian Elephant. According to the Chinese Government, these parks are also preserving cultural heritage, boosting local economies, and enticing tourists to experience the country's diverse landscapes. While domestic tourists flock to China's wilderness destinations, few foreigners follow suit, says Jun Wen, associate professor of tourism at Macau University of Science and Technology. Instead, most international visitors focus on China's giant, historic cities, like Beijing, Shanghai, and Xi'an. However, Wen believes that will change as China expands its park system; the country will become world-renowned for nature-based tourism. (Our ancestors walked these trails hundreds of years ago. Now you can too.) China aims to upstage the U.S. China's national park system will eclipse the US version, says Mei Zhang, CEO of Wild China, one of the country's biggest tour companies. Being launched so recently gives it the advantage of learning from the mistakes of other park systems. 'While the United States pioneered the Yellowstone model—preserving vast wilderness areas—it also made significant missteps,' Zhang says. 'Such as enclosing land and forcefully displacing Indigenous communities to create an image of 'pristine' wilderness. In contrast, China has the chance to chart its own course. By fostering a symbiotic relationship between local communities and wildlife conservation, China can create a national park system that integrates cultural vitality with ecological stewardship.' That is a lofty goal, but then again, so is building the world's biggest national park system, from scratch in 14 years. China has a history of record-breaking mega-projects, from the world's largest dam to the planet's longest bridge, and an unrivalled high-speed rail network. Now China is channeling its vast wealth, ambition, and capability into protecting and showcasing its extraordinary, yet overlooked natural scenery. Here's a look at five national parks in China worth visiting now. 5 must-see national parks in China 1. Giant Panda National Park: China's iconic Giant Panda has a park Kindergarten children visit a Giant Panda cub at the Dujiangyan Panda Base. Photograph by Ami Vitale, Nat Geo Image Collection Wen recommends visiting Giant Panda National Park, which covers 6.6 million acres of mountainous land in Central China's Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu Provinces. It protects the habitats of most of the country's 1,900 wild Giant Pandas; a species found only in China. The best time to see this park is between April and October when the weather is warmest, vegetation is thickest, and Giant Pandas are most active. All year round, parkgoers can see pandas and learn about these unique creatures at the park's panda research centers at Wolong and Dujiangyan. 'Visitors have the opportunity to explore panda habitats on foot and even volunteer to assist panda caretakers,' Wen says. 'They can observe the daily activities of pandas, including climbing trees, playing, eating, and tumbling.' Good to know: Giant Panda National Park can be reached by flying into Chengdu and then heading two hours north by bus. The park is quite isolated; so, it is most easily explored on a guided tour booked with a Chinese tour company. 2. Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park: Saving big cats from extinction In addition to Giant Pandas, China's national parks aim to save rare animal species from extinction. Zhou says the endangered Amur leopards and Amur tigers are now protected in the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park. Located in northeast China, this national park covers 3.5 million acres along the borders with Russia and North Korea, and it eclipses the size of any national park in the lower 48 States of the U.S. 'Through removing fencing in forest zones, reconnecting fragmented habitats, and implementing ecological translocation, the park has restored essential migration and reproduction corridors for these species,' Zhou says. Good to know: Visitors can observe some of these scientific projects up close by booking guided tours of this national park with Chinese tour operators like Benchmark. The isolated park can be reached by flying from Beijing or Shanghai into Yanji, followed by a three-to-four-hour bus ride. (China just had a museum building spree. Here are 6 of the best.) 3. Sanjiangyuan National Park: A national park bigger than Florida In northwest China's Qinghai Province, Sanjiangyuan National Park is 47 million acres and larger than Florida, making it China's largest park. The editor of Travel China Guide tour company, Catherine He says Sanjiangyuan is very diverse geographically. Dramatic mountains loom above glaciers, high-altitude wetlands, grassland meadows, desert plateaus, and mirrored lakes. Sanjiangyuan is called 'China's Water Tower' because it is the source region of the Yangtze, Mekong, and Yellow rivers, says He. While exploring its pristine wilderness, visitors may spot unique snow leopards and Tibetan antelopes. According to the Chinese Government, this new park is why the antelope's population has soared to 70,000. Good to know: Enter this vast park by flying into Xining or Golmud from big Chinese cities Xi'an, Shanghai, or Chengdu, and then take a relatively short bus or taxi ride. By visiting during the warmer months from May to September, visitors can hike its many trails in comfort, witness the park's grasslands in bloom, and increase their chances of seeing wildlife. 4. Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park: China's version of Hawaii The Yanoda Rainforest Cultural Tourism Zone is known for its lush rainforest, waterfalls, and cultural experiences. It is part of the Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park on Hainan Island, China. Photograph by Dmitrii Melnikov, Alamy The new Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park is also impressive, according to Aliana Leong, Hospitality Professor from Macau University of Science and Technology. It envelops 1 million acres of Hainan, China's southernmost province. Sometimes called the 'Hawaii of China', Hainan is a picturesque island fringed by pretty beaches and with a hilly, verdant interior. Forest rangers patrol the Bawangling area of Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park in south China's Hainan Province. Photograph by Zhang Liyun, Xinhua/Alamy 'This new national park has China's most diverse, best preserved, and largest contiguous area of tropical rainforest,' Leong says. Within its lush expanse lives 33 percent of China's reptile species, 38 percent of its bird species, 20 percent of its mammal species, and more than 3,500 plant species. Leong adds, 'It is the only habitat for the Hainan gibbon and a treasure trove of tropical biodiversity.' Good to know: This park is quickly reached by bus or taxi from either of Hainan's two international airports. Embrace its untamed vibe by joining a whitewater rafting tour through the commanding Wuzhishan Grand Canyon. (China's other great wall is impressive, too—and steeped in history.) 5. Wuyi Mountain National Park: Insta-worthy landscapes Researchers walk through Zhongshan meadow in Wuyishan National Park, southeast China's Fujian Province. Wuyi Mountain has a comprehensive forest ecosystem representative of the mid-subtropical zone. It boasts diverse groups of plants due to its varying altitudes. Photograph by Jiang Kehong, Xinhua/Alamy If you're on social media, then you may have seen eye-catching images and videos of Wuyi Mountain National Park. Covering 316,000 acres of mountainous terrain in Fujian and Jiangxi Provinces, it is known for its unusual Danxia landscapes, where red stone cliffs, gorges, and peaks contrast sharply against dense, green forests. This park encompasses the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Mount Wuyi, one of China's prettiest and most revered mountains, says Catherine He. Good to know: Visitors can follow spectacular hiking trails, go bamboo rafting on Jiuqu Stream, wander splendid tea tree groves, or admire historic mountainside temples and monasteries, she recommends. China's new environmental focus China already has thousands of protected nature reserves, says Ralf Buckley, emeritus professor of ecotourism at Australia's Griffith University. However, unlike most of the world's top national parks, those reserves don't qualify as national parks under the stringent system of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). So China designed its new national parks to meet the IUCN criteria by making them 'mainly for conservation, with limited tourism under strict regulation, and no residential housing'. China's national park system is already improving wildlife preservation, says Bin Zhou, a tourism professor at China's Ningbo University. 'China is among the most biodiverse countries in the world, while also facing significant threats to its ecosystems,' Zhou says. Wearing a panda suit as camouflage, a panda keeper does a health check on a panda cub in Wolong, home to the Wolong National Nature Reserve and part of the Giant Panda National Park in China. Photograph by Ami Vitale, Nat Geo Image Collection 'The (park system) enables the designation of high-level protection zones in key ecological function areas, critical habitats, and ecological security barriers. Ensuring the long-term survival of flagship species such as the giant panda, Amur tiger and leopard, and Asian elephant, along with their habitats.' The new parks have helped increase China's populations of 200 species of rare animals and about 100 endangered plant species, announced in May 2025. (21 photos of China's best UNESCO World Heritage sites.) Cultural and social benefits of national parks China's national park system is also motivated by cultural heritage preservation, economic development, and public education, says Aliana Leong, a tourism professor at Macau University of Science and Technology. 'Many of China's national parks are rich in cultural and historical significance, so expanding the national park system helps protect ancient villages, traditional cultures, and historical sites,' she says. 'National parks also drive local economic growth through tourism. They create job opportunities, increase revenue, and promote sustainable development in rural and remote areas. (Finally) they serve as outdoor classrooms, raising public awareness of environmental protection and cultural heritage.' Andrew Nelson is the author of National Geographic's recently published travel book Here Not There. Follow him on Instagram.
