Large Lake and Desert Cat Spotted in Dunhuang West Lake Nature Reserve
Beijing News reported (reporter Li Ao) that reporters from the Gansu Dunhuang West Lake National Nature Reserve Bureau learned that a freshwater lake about 3 square kilometers was discovered in the Ai Shan Jizi area of the protection zone. This is another large lake discovered in the desertified protection zone. Due to the recovery of the ecological environment, it has gradually attracted many wild animals, and the bureau’s responsible person said that this month it was for the first time to shoot the national secondary protected animal desert cat.
New discovered freshwater lake. Qiu Liang photographed
The Dunhuang West Lake National Nature Reserve has appeared another large freshwater lake.
The chief engineer of the Protection Zone Bureau, Sun ZhiCheng, introduced to the Beijing News reporter that it was discovered by the bureau’s scientific research personnel during the spring survey in the Ai Shan area, ‘According to the location, the West Lake Bureau named this lake Ai Shan Lake.’
Freshwater lake in the desert. Provided by respondents
According to the video footage, in a vast expanse of desert, a large area of green freshwater lake suddenly appeared, and surrounding vegetation was also abundant, reeds and willows surrounded one side of the lake.
Sun ZhiCheng said that Ai Shan Lake appeared in the segment northwest of the Shu Lu West Lake Protection Zone, in a low-lying area, the eastern section of the lake is connected to the river and wetland, the central and western parts deep into the Gobi Ya Dan, the entire lake is about 3 kilometers east and west, and about 800 meters north and south. ‘Ai Shan Lake is a low-lying sandy area, there was no lake in the past. Now, Ai Shan Lake and Haranrol and Harazi, two larger lakes, play an important role in protecting the Dunhuang West Lake wetland and restoring biodiversity.’
Vegetation is also abundant around the lake. Provided by respondents
It is reported that the lake was formed by the accumulation of Shu Lu River, which is later than the Shu Lu River accumulation lake Haranrol that appeared in 2016, but should be earlier than the Shu Lu River terminal lake Harazi that appeared in 2017.
Currently, the ecological environment here is under protection and gradually improving, Sun ZhiCheng said that the sandy lake around which was previously sandy has recovered, and wild animals are also increasing, ‘There are occasionally cormorants, white egrets, ducks, gulls and other birds inhabiting or flying here, which is a new sight, they all start to choose to migrate and reproduce here.’
The first time to shoot desert cat. Provided by respondents
It is reported that infrared cameras were also installed in the protection zone in early March, and it captured the shadow of the national secondary protected animal desert cat for the first time, ‘It is an adult desert cat here, it has not been discovered before. In addition, we also photographed golden eagles, qing hou,,, etc. many kinds of wild animals.’ Sun ZhiCheng said that these phenomena indicate that the ecological environment in the Dunhuang area is getting better year by year.
Beijing News reporter Li Ao
Editor Zhang Shu Jing Proofread Liu Bao Qing
