Conservation on the plateau has seen many successes in recent years. The Tibetan antelope is now famous after experiencing severe threats from poaching. Effective protection is now in place, and this special antelope was even selected to be one of the five “friendlies” for the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008. During the construction of the Qinghai-Tibet railroad, special routes were reserved for the antelope’s migration. For example, near the Kunlun Mountain there is a 11.7 kilometer bridge, named “Clear River Bridge,” that is designated as a special route for wildlife. In the spring, you may be lucky enough to see the pregnant antelope walk gracefully through the route towards their traditional birthing grounds.
There are many nature reserves providing abundant habitat for plateau wildlife and securing the “Chinese water tower” on the Tibetan Plateau. Some reserves include the Changtang Reserve (Tibet), covering 300,000 square kilometers, and forming an extended reserve with KeKeXiLi Reserve (Qinghai), Sanjiangyuan Reserve (Qinghai), and Altun Mountain Reserve (Xinjiang).
The Lalu wetland reserve, also known as the “Lung of Lhasa,” is located just north of Lhasa, and it is the largest and highest natural wetland in the world. It covers 12.2 square kilometers, 11.5% of Lhasa’s area, and it is a important part of a unique landscape that also includes the sacred Potala Palace, exhibiting an awe-inspiring combination of culture and nature in one view.
Since the establishment of the Lalu wetland reserve, there has been a significant increase in variety and population of species. For example, it is now much easier to find wild ducks in the reeds of the wetland. There are many other wetlands throughout the Lhasa Valley and along the railroad, providing unique scenery and important ecosystem services.
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