CHONGQING (CQNEWS) -- In the quiet Simian Mountain, when footsteps are heard in the forest, it must be Yang Zainan who comes over followed by the "detective team". Simian Mountain is a necessary way for migratory birds to pass, therefore, forest rangers here not only plant trees for fire prevention, but also conduct ecological resources surveys on animals and plants. According to the clues in the forest, they dodge poisonous snakes and beasts, and become "detectives" discovering new species of animals and plants.

In the Dawopu Management and Protection Station of Simian Mountain Forest Resource Service Center in Jiangjin District, 18 staff are responsible for guarding 40,923 mu of forest within the jurisdiction. Yang Zainan, the head of the station, 38 years old this year, decided to take root in the forest farm after transferred to civil work. “I used to be a guardian of national territory, and now I am a guardian of forests.” Although younger than others, he is called "Cap. Yang".

The days in the forest farm are dull and tedious, and it takes more than ten hours to get the farthest station every time they go on a mountain patrol. The mountain is still the same, but people have changed for several generations. Jiang Yuncheng, who just retired last week, had been working here for 45 years. No other young people like Yang Zainan could be found here.

It takes four hours to walk back and forth from Dawopu, through Nianpan, to Huangjueyan, which must be done for mountain patrols every day. “There is no electricity or ventilation at Tuwan, so we can only use kerosene lamps here.”

Simian Mountain belongs to a subtropical monsoon humid climate, with abundant animal and plant resources and a variety of rare species, making protection work particularly important.

Yang Zainan is taking down an infrared camera installed in the wild. In the core area of Simian Mountain Municipal Nature Reserve in Chongqing, poisonous snakes, vespids and wild boars are often seen. Yang Zainan and the older forest rangers all know that it’s better not to run away or pay attention to wild boars when encounter some of them, and they will leave.

Mountain roads are difficult to walk on, and you will stumble by the branches on both sides if not watching your steps, while this waterway is the only path for mountain patrols. “Although the water looks shallow now, it will be below your knees when it rains and floods.” Along the way, you should also observe wild protected animals such as giant salamanders and toads.

With the efforts of the "detective team”, more than 20 new species of animals and plants have been discovered in Simian Mountain. Among them, there are 7 species named after Simian Mountain, with 214 families, 1,041 genera and 3,331 species of vascular plants recorded locally, and 31 orders, 88 families, 195 genera and 261 species of wild vertebrates.

Dawopu Management and Protection Station is located in the core area of Simian Mountain forest, which is also the staggered zone of national forests and social forests in Sichuan, Chongqing, and Guizhou, so the situation of forest fire prevention remains severe. What makes Yang Zainan proud is that the Simian Mountain has maintained a record of no fire for over 20 years.

It is cool during summer in Simian Mountain, and many tourists come here to enjoy the cool. Yang Zainan and his colleagues will also walk to the scenic area to promote knowledge of forest fire prevention to tourists. When encountering rainy days, they will also teach tourists how to avoid floods.

After lunch, with their bags packed, another day of mountain patrolling begins. Yang Zainan and his colleagues continued to walk deeper into the jungle. “Patrol the mountains and protect the forests, protect forest resources, and be a good guardian of clear waters and green mountains," Yang Zainan said, adding that this is the wish of everyone in the "detective team". (Translated by Hu Chuanmin, Fathom Language Limited)