The Olympic Games 2008 – and the world’s eyes are on Beijing. But mention Chinese wildlife and you probably think of, well, pandas and er, pandas. But what about the elephants, the snub-nosed monkeys, the Oriental pied hornbills and the pangolins? Don’t worry. If you’ve never heard of them, you’re not alone. Few of us know much about the rich wildlife of this vast, notoriously secretive country. Even scientists still have an enormous amount to learn – and many think new species of both plants and animals are still to be discovered there.
Pangolins and Mrs Gould's Sunbirds
Now, Chinese Wildlife, a new guidebook by Cambridge-based naturalist Martin Walters (Bradt, £16.99) takes a close look at the whole of the natural world in China – from butterflies and bears to those pangolins, mammals which he describes as looking like: ‘animated pine cones’. The book’s illustrated with colour photographs by Heather Angel, which make you want to rush off to China immediately, just to see its gorgeous birds. There’s the flame chested, short-billed minivet (Pericrocotus brevirostris), or the rather prosaically named Mrs Gould’s sunbird (Aethopyga gouldiae), the male of which has rich red and yellow plumage, with a splash of iridescent blue by its eye.
Endangered Species in China
In the book, Martin Walters also highlights China’s cavalier treatment of its remarkable natural heritage, in which species have been hunted almost to extinction for use in traditional medicines, fur and food. The text says that, while the giant panda is valued as a national icon, the endangered red panda is still hunted for its fur and musk deer numbers are threatened, as they are killed for use in traditional medicine and the perfume industry. Contributors to the book include zoologists Professor Wang Sung and Dr Xie Yan - and there’s an interesting section on China’s nature reserves: very handy if you’re planning a wildlife watching trip there. The hope of Martin Walters and his expert contributors is that the book will not only focus public attention on the rich variety of Chinese wildlife, but will help to promote international co-operation between scientists in China and the west.
Snow Leopards and Takins in Nature Reserves
One hopeful sign is that the number of nature reserves has recently increased dramatically, and although there are issues with their management and the degree of protection the animals are offered, it shows a positive attitude. So where are the best places to go if you want to see wildlife in China? Well, if you want to see snow leopards, the book suggests you make for the Tashiku’ergan or Bayinbuluke reserves, in the desert regions of north-west China. If you’re a birdwatcher and want to see rare birds like the Oriental stork and red-crowned crane, try Dalaihu reserve in Inner Mongolia. In the mountains and forests of central China, in Foping reserve, there are giant pandas as well as other rare mammals such as golden snub-nosed monkeys and takins – strange animals that are a sort of mix between goats and antelopes. Whether you’re planning on taking a holiday to China, or just want to learn more about this vast country, this book is certainly worth a place on your bookshelf.
 |
