A number of rare species, including golden pheasants, have been spotted¹ in a nature reserve in Yan'an, Shannxi province, reports thepaper.cn.

 

延安自然保护区发现一些珍稀物种，其中包括锦鸡。
 

 

This follows an earlier discovery of the largest-ever population of the North China Leopard² in the Ziwuling Forest Area in Yan'an.

 

Researchers are also reporting sightings of other rare animals, including red foxes and roe³ deer.

 

Images of the rare animals have been captured by infrared⁴ cameras installed by researchers from Beijing Normal University throughout Ziwuling.

 

"The nature reserve has a large population of wild boars and roe deer, as well as small and medium-sized carnivorous animals such as ocelots and red foxes. If it was not for environmental protection we've undertaken, it's likely none of these animals would have survived," said Feng Limin, associate professor from Beijing Normal University.

 

Massive reforestation projects have been underway around Yan'an since 1998.

 

Researchers say they've been able to catalogue 263 different species in Ziwuling so far, including 8 endangered species under first-class national protection.

 

29 other animals under second-class national protection have also been catalogued around Yan'an, the report added.

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