U2-A DAY IN THE CLOUDS 云中的一天

A DAY IN THE CLOUDS

The air is thin and we have to rest several times on the short hike from camp. To our left, snow-covered mountains disappear into clouds that seem almost close enough to touch. On the plain in front of us, we can just make out a herd of graceful animals. This is why we’re here — to observe Tibetan antelopes.

Tibetan antelopes live on the plains of Tibet, Xinjiang, and Qinghai. Watching them move slowly across the green grass. I’m struck by their beauty. I’m also reminded of the danger they are in. They are being hunted, illegally, for their valuable fur.

My guide is Zhaxi, a village from Changtang. He works at the Changtang National Nature Reserve. The reserve is a shelter for the animals and plants of northwestern Tibet. To Zhaxi, the land is sacred and protecting the wildlife is a way of life. “We’re not trying to save the animals,” he says. “Actually, we’re trying to save ourselves.”

The 1980s and 1990s were bad times for the Tibetan antelope. The population dropped by more than 50 percent. Hunters were shooting antelopes to make profits. Their habitats were becoming smaller as new roads and railways were built.

In order to save this species from extinction, the Chinese government placed it under national protection. Zhaxi and other volunteers watched over the antelopes day and night to keep them safe from attacks. Bridges and gates were added to let the antelopes move easily and keep them safe from cars and trains.

The measures were effective. The antelope population has recovered and in June 2015, the Tibetan antelope was removed from the endangered species list. The government, however, does not intend to stop the protection programmes, since the threats to the Tibetan antelope have not yet disappeared.

In the evening, I drink a cup of tea and watch the stars. I think about the antelopes and what Zhaxi told me. Much is being done to protect wildlife, but if we really want to save the planet, we must change our way of life. Only when we learn to exist in harmony with nature can we stop being a threat to wildlife and to our planet.

云中的一天

空气很稀薄，我们不得不在从营地出发的短途徒步旅行中休息几次。在我们的左边，白雪皑皑的山脉消失在云层中，看上去几乎触手可及。在我们面前的平原上，我们隐约看到一群体形优美的动物。这就是为什么我们在这里观察藏羚羊。

藏羚羊生活在西藏、新疆和青海的平原上。看着它们在绿色的草地上缓慢移动。我被它们的美丽打动了。我还想起了它们所处的危险。因其珍贵的羊毛，它们正遭受非法猎杀。

我的导游是羌塘的一位村民扎西。他在羌塘国家级自然保护区工作。该保护区是西藏西北地区动植物的庇护所。对于扎西来说，这片土地是神圣的，保护野生动植物是一种生活方式。他说：“我们不是在拯救动物。其实我们是在拯救自己。”

上个世纪80年代和90年代对于藏羚羊来说是一个糟糕的时期。藏羚羊的数量下降了50％以上。猎人为了赚钱而射杀羚羊。随着新公路和铁路的修建，它们的栖息地变得越来越小。

为了使这个物种免于灭绝，中国政府将其置于国家保护之下。扎西和其他志愿者昼夜守卫着羚羊，保护它们免受袭击。桥梁和大门的增设，让藏羚羊可以轻松移动，并使它们免受汽车和火车的伤害。

这些措施是有效的。藏羚羊的数量已经恢复，2015年6月，藏羚羊从濒危物种名单中被剔除。但是，由于对藏羚羊的威胁尚未消失，政府并没有打算停止这些保护项目。

晚上，我喝着茶，看着星星。我想起了藏羚羊和扎西告诉我的。为了保护野生动物，我们已经做了很多工作，但是如果我们真的想拯救地球，就必须改变生活方式。只有学会与大自然和谐相处，我们才不会成为野生动植物和地球的威胁。