Over a decade ago, while participating in an outdoor field test for the lunar rover "Yutu" in the depths of the Lop Nur, Liu Shaochuang, a researcher at the Aerospace Information Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, was deeply captivated by this mysterious and awe-inspiring sight. Little did Liu Shaochuang imagine at that time that his fate would intertwine with this desert, and his name would be closely linked to the cause of wild camel conservation. Even less did he anticipate that, upon reaching retirement age, he would be awarded the Rolex Award for Enterprise for his project "Utilizing Innovative Technologies to Save Endangered Wild Camels," becoming the first Chinese scientist to receive such an honor. Recently, Liu Shaochuang sat down for an interview with the China Science Daily, where he shared his story along with that of the wild camels.
Liu Shaochuang (left) and team members observe wild Bactrian camel footprints. "Love at first sight" with wild Bactrian camels
The wild Bactrian camel, scientifically known as Camelus ferus, is one of the large mammals living in the interior of Asia, now only found in an area of 200,000 square kilometers in northwest China and southwest Mongolia. Unlike domestic camels, they have a genetic difference of 2% to 3%, making them distinct species. Thriving in the depths of the desert, wild Bactrian camels are not just travelers in vast deserts but also warriors surviving extreme environments. However, these resilient creatures face extinction risks due to habitat destruction, wolf predation, illegal crossings, and unauthorized mining activities. Liu Shaochuang told China Science Daily that the number of wild Bactrian camels is now less than 1,000, rarer than giant pandas.
Why protect wild Bactrian camels? Liu Shaochuang says it all began with his first encounter with them. In October 2011, Liu saw wild Bactrian camels for the first time in the Annanba Protection Area in Gansu Province. "I was very excited when I found out that those huge creatures were wild Bactrian camels, not domestically raised ones. It turned out that wild Bactrian camels were real, not just legends," he said. "At that time, I made the same mistake as many others, thinking that domestic camels turned wild once they wandered into the wilderness." He chuckled, "So, I basically started from scratch." He was deeply drawn to this species and, upon learning about their endangered status, decided to lend a helping hand.
But protecting wild Bactrian camels is no easy task. Their habitat covers an area of 200,000 square kilometers, they have a large range of activity, and they are naturally wary, often roaming in the desolate deserts of uninhabited areas. Little is known about their exact numbers, migration routes, and habits. At that time, tracking wild Bactrian camels relied entirely on human observation, with clues such as footprints, tracks, and dung.
However, Liu Shaochuang is an adventurous scientist. Over 20 years ago, he participated in polar expeditions and reached the North Pole twice. Later, his scientific research projects involved determining the sources and lengths of major rivers, taking him to various parts of the world. Therefore, the numerous challenges faced in protecting wild Bactrian camels only fueled his determination.
Days of Tracking Wild Bactrian Camels
The Wild Camel
Liu Shaochuang, with a background in photogrammetry and remote sensing, had the idea to apply navigation technology to track wild camels while working on the navigation and mapping systems for the "Zhurong" Mars rover and the "Yutu" lunar rover. Despite lacking a project or funding at the time, he decided to proceed. In May 2012, with the assistance of the local wildlife management bureau, Liu installed the first tracker on a wild camel in China.
"Wild camels probably don't like wearing trackers, but it doesn't greatly impact their lives," Liu said. The tracker weighs less than 1 kilogram and has a battery life of 3 years, after which it falls off automatically.
While tracking wild animals is common in zoology, it was a first for wild camels. Liu explained that equipping them with trackers allows for better data collection to understand their behavior and habits. Additionally, the data collected by the trackers, combined with other remote sensing information, can be used to study the quality of their habitats, such as vegetation cover, water source distribution, and the impact of human activities.
So far, Liu and his team have installed trackers on 26 wild camels from different groups in the depths of the desert. They have used the tracking data to establish habitat suitability models covering the distribution areas of wild camels in China and Mongolia.
Tracking wild camels has its challenges and rewards. However, Liu's biggest concern is the loss of camels due to various factors, such as predation by wolves.
"The first camel I tracked was killed by a wolf," Liu lamented. "I noticed that the tracking data wasn't updating, and upon investigation, I found out it had been killed by a wolf."
"This is what we can see, there may be many more we haven't seen," Liu told Chinese Science News. In his view, protecting wild camels urgently requires two things: limiting the impact of human activities (such as illegal crossings and mining) and controlling the number of wolves.
To achieve these goals, proper tracking is essential. Only by tracking data can people gradually understand their migration routes, living environments, and potential threats. With this information, more detailed plans can be made, such as where to build water source protection areas and how to improve protection measures.
"Putting great effort into protecting them is worthwhile," Liu emphasized.
Through continuous observation and monitoring, Liu and his team have noticed some unusual changes. They observed that while wild camels have large ranges, with some groups traveling dozens or even hundreds of kilometers per day, their activity areas are shrinking due to climate change and increased human activity. There are signs that wild camels in China and Mongolia are moving towards higher altitude areas in the Altai Mountains and colder high latitude areas.
"This means they may face more dangers," Liu said. Currently, the survival status of wild camels is worrying, and without immediate effective protection measures, these "spirits" could be extinct in 30 to 50 years.
To protect wild camels, China has established the Xinjiang Lop Nur and Gansu Annanba Wild Camel National Nature Reserves in Xinjiang and Gansu respectively. These reserves provide safe habitats for wild camels and reduce human activities' interference with their living environment.
Based on this, Liu proposes to expand the area of wild camel reserves in Xinjiang, Gansu, and other places and establish comprehensive and strongly protected wild camel national parks. Additionally, he notes that many barbed wire fences along the China-Mongolia border have cut off the free migration routes of wild camels. He advocates for the establishment of a cross-border natural reserve between China and Mongolia to create more living space for wild camel populations and other wildlife.
In Liu's eyes, venturing into the desert isn't a big deal, but protecting wild camels is ultimately a "money-burning" endeavor. Research funds and projects in this area are falling behind the pace of their tracking work, necessitating self-financing in the long run.
Fortunately, winners of the Rolex Awards for Enterprise will receive CHF 200,000 (approximately RMB 1.64 million) in research funding. With this money, Liu feels considerably relieved, saying, "This money is enough to make 40 satellite trackers." Despite the frequent budget constraints, he believes that putting in great effort to protect wild camels is worthwhile.
Firstly, wild camels are flagship species in desert areas, so protecting them means protecting the entire ecosystem. Secondly, wild camels have many mysteries, such as their ability to live in former atomic test sites without developing cancer. Despite preferring fresh water, they rarely suffer from cardiovascular or hypertension diseases despite drinking high-concentration salt water due to environmental constraints. Related research has found that their unique physiological mechanisms may provide insights into treating tumors, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases in humans. Additionally, how they remove salt from saline water in their bodies is also a topic worth studying.
"We still know very little about wild camels," Liu said. "I believe that through in-depth research, we will make many discoveries that are beneficial to humans."
