Perched at an altitude of 2,300 meters, Xining Wildlife Park serves as a window to share stories of China's plateau ecology with the world. There are no gimmicky performances here, only the power of life reborn. As the only zoo in the world that keeps and exhibits Chinese mountain cats, Tibetan foxes, and Przewalski's gazelles, Xining Wildlife Park also boasts the world's largest captive snow leopard population. In recent years, this squad has taken the internet by storm both at home and abroad, and behind each of these animals lies a vivid and moving tale of wildlife rescue in China.
Snow leopards garner tens of millions of views overseas
Snow leopards are the "top-tier superstars" of the Park. Last year, "Ling Xiaozhe" and "Ling Xiaomang" went viral across Chinese social media, becoming phenomenal internet sensations, with their videos racking up tens of millions of views overseas and trending as hot topics on Facebook.
It is understood that "Ling Xiaozhi" was once completely paralyzed due to a cervical spine fracture and prolonged starvation, able only to move its eyes and mouth slightly. Staff worked around the clock for three days and nights to save its life, gradually helping it regain the ability to stand, walk, and jump. "Ling Xiaomang," on the other hand, was found unconscious in the snow by a herder; suffering from severe damage to its digestive system, it took a full month of careful care by rescuers before it could eat normally again.
The park also houses "Ling Shuang" and "Ling Bufu," both of whom have had difficult journeys: Ling Shuang was paralyzed from starvation and became the first snow leopard in China to undergo an MRI scan; Ling Bufu suffered a fractured sternum and severe facial injuries, and the veterinary team performed China's first facial reconstruction surgery on a snow leopard. With its unyielding spirit, Ling Bufu embodies the plateau spirit.
According to Qi Xinzhang, head of the Science Popularization, Education, and External Exchange Department of the Qinghai Wildlife Rescue and Breeding Center, since "Ling Shuang," all snow leopards rescued by Xining Wildlife Park have been given the surname "Ling."
"The original meaning of 'Ling' is ice and snow, which closely matches the snow leopard's character, and it also carries the extended meaning of 'overcoming' or 'surmounting.' We hope that every rescued snow leopard can overcome the hardships it has encountered in life."
Beyond snow leopards, the park also houses Pallas's cats, Chinese mountain cats, and Eurasian lynxes. These four feline species are affectionately dubbed the "Xining Wild F4" by netizens and are the biggest "stars" at the park. The Chinese mountain cat is a small feline unique to western China, and is exhibited nowhere else in the world but Xining Wildlife Park. Pallas's cats, with their amusing and adorable expressions, can only be seen at the zoos in Xining and Lhasa. The lynx is soft, cute, and affectionate toward people, always bouncing about with energy.
Over 2,700 wild animals rescued
In the herbivore section of Xining Wildlife Park, the world-class rare Przewalski's gazelle also draws the attention of many visitors. From a population of just 200–300 at the beginning of this century to over 3,700 today after years of protection, the recovery of the Przewalski's gazelle population stands as powerful evidence of the improving ecology of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau.
Xining Wildlife Park is also home to an animal that is neither cute nor cuddly: the Himalayan vulture, one of China's largest birds of prey. In 2017, the park achieved the first successful captive breeding of Himalayan vultures in China, filling a domestic gap. The chick, nicknamed "Wumaqiu" (Five-Cent Fur Ball), nearly died in snowy weather but was saved through artificial incubation and rescue efforts. It grew up to be affectionate and gentle, and its unique story of growing up alongside its younger siblings has drawn widespread attention from nature enthusiasts around the world.
Xining Wildlife Park enjoys the advantage of having the highest-altitude, most unique, and most culturally connected wildlife resources. It also serves as the Qinghai Provincial Wildlife Rescue and Breeding Center. According to reports, since its official establishment in 2010, the center has rescued over 2,700 wild animals from more than 60 species, with approximately one-third successfully released back into the wild. "Whenever there is hope for release, we do our utmost to return them to nature. Every animal that stays has an unavoidable reason," said Qi.
Walking through Xining Wildlife Park, one cannot miss the prominent quote by Jane Goodall: "Only if we understand can we care; only if we care can we help; only if we help shall all be saved."
Qi noted that this saying has long been the guiding philosophy of Xining Wildlife Park.
"We are committed to using captive display and science communication to help more people learn about, pay attention to, and care for the native species of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, and to secure more conservation resources for them."
Today, Xining Wildlife Park's new media accounts continue to produce educational content, boasting over a million followers, and have connected with overseas teenagers through online classes, using real wildlife rescue cases to tell unique Chinese stories.
(Reporter: Zhang Shizhen; Anchor: Ella Qu; Camerapeople: Zhang Shizhen, Sammi; Editor: Rainy; English Editor: Darius; Producer: Tracy)
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