A survey shows that wildlife resources in this central Chinese province of Hunan has been decreasing.

Ecological experts call for more attention to this alarming phenomenon and greater efforts to protect nature in a bid to rebuild an environment wherein man lives in harmony with nature.

Hunan, situated in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, has a forest coverage of 51 percent, where live more than 600 kinds of animals on the land, 66 of them have been listed under state's top protection.

It also boasts East Dongting Lake Nature Reserve where more than 100 kinds of birds live on a regular basis. The reserve, which is also an important habitat in east Asian continent for migratory birds, is included into the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as waterfowl habitats.

The survey, which lasted five years and came to a close recently, was carried out by Hunan Provincial Bureau of Forestry in accordance with the arrangements of the National Administration of Forestry.

Some 3,000 specialists and forestry workers participated in the survey, which cost 12 million yuan (about US$ 1.5 million) .

A report based on the survey result said that the number of precious and rare animals dropped drastically. Traces of endangered larger animals, such as South China Tigers, leopards, have not been seen for years because of many factors, including limited areas of distribution and larger damage from human activities.

Even jackals and wolves, river deers, which used to be in this central Chinese province in large numbers, have also disappeared.

Other smaller wildlife resources have also been decreasing in the province, but reproduction of such small wildlife resources might be gradually restored if protection and scientific management measures are taken, said forestry experts.

On the contrary, rodents like mice and hares have been increasing by big numbers because of the environmental changes and decrease of their natural enemies. They not only eat up crops, but also spread diseases, greatly endangering the life of the people.

An official with the section for protection of wild animals and plants of the Hunan Provincial Bureau of Forestry said that random poaching, damage of the habitats of animals are main factors behind the decrease of wildlife resources in Hunan.

Take wetland animals as an example, polluted water has led to a drastic plunge in the numbers of aquatic creatures, wetland animals' staple food, and has affected the metabolizing of calcium and phosphor in animals, making shells for eggs of many animals become thin and unable to be hatched, which has in turn caused the decrease in the number of wildlife.

(People's Daily 08/02/2001)