In early April, a biodiversity research team from the Luohu bureau of the Ecology and Environment Bureau in Shenzhen embarked on an important mission in Wutong Mountain, the highest peak in the Guangdong province. As part of their survey, they strategically placed four infrared cameras throughout the forest, designed to detect heat signatures from wildlife.
The exciting breakthrough came in September when the team retrieved and analyzed footage from these cameras. To their delight, they discovered images of a wild Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla), marking the first sighting of this elusive species in Shenzhen’s Luohu district in over three decades.
Huang Qin, the technical adviser for the survey team, expressed his excitement, stating, “It was a pleasant surprise for us. It’s evidence of the effectiveness of our environmental conservation efforts in the area.” This finding underscores the positive impact of conservation initiatives and the resilience of wildlife, offering hope for the recovery of rare species in urbanized regions.
This remarkable event not only highlights the importance of ongoing conservation work but also demonstrates the potential for biodiversity to thrive even in areas heavily influenced by human activity. It serves as a powerful reminder of the significance of protecting natural habitats to ensure the survival of vulnerable species.