In search of the elusive snow leopard

Images of a snow leopard and a brown bear captured by the same camera.[Photo/Shanshui Conservation Center]

"It was a big loss," Tashi Dondrub said. "To encourage people to better protect wild animals, we funded an insurance program to compensate losses. People can invest three yuan for each yak and get up to 1,500 yuan for a yak that is attacked," said Tashi Dondrub.

From January to August those who suffered as a result of 154 yak attacks received compensation. In addition to compensation, locals benefit from the operation of national park in other ways.

Halfway to Shanshui station the previous day, we came cross a herdsman, Dongsheng, 28. In camouflage uniform, wearing a red hat and a red armband, he sang a song in Tibetan that eulogized his beautiful homeland.

Coming from a poor five-people family, on motorcycle or in his car he patrols four mountains, looking out for the theft of plants, wild animals, picking up garbage and reporting on yak attacks. In fact the job entails looking after the ecosystem of the mountains in his charge.

Dongsheng, one of the 468 patrollers in Angsai town, all from poor families, is paid 1,800 yuan a month from national park funding. Patrollers on similar duty in the Yellow river-and the Yangtze River-Source regions are paid similarly.