LAO WAN, FROM A HUNTER TO A RANGER
amurinfocenter.org/en/about/news/ecoregion-news/lao-wan-from-a-hunter-to-a-ranger/?sphrase_id=5794 This is where I was born and grew up. I love this forest so much. I’ve trodden every inch of the land. I’m willing to safeguard the mountain with my life.
Many years ago, when Lao Wan was young, he was trained by his father to be a hunter in the deep mountain, holding a shot gun all day long. Although not returning home fully loaded every day, he could well support himself and his families who enjoyed abundant supplies of nature. Wild animals inhabited all over mountains and fields in those days. Fur and meat of an animal could be sold for hundreds of yuan, more than Wan's annual income.
As a hunter, Wan should have been merciless to animals, but he had a mixed feeling every time he aimed at the king of the forest. "I'm afraid we’ll get punished for killing original owners of the mountain." Whenever thinking of this, Wan comforted himself that as long as he didn’t overhunt, animals wouldn’t become extinct. Wild animals wanted to survive, so did himself and families.
At that time, Wan didn't expect he would put down the gun one day when Huangnihe forest was officially taken over by the government, and hunting was completely prohibited. His story with mountain and forest was cut off. For a long time, Lao Wan couldn't adapt to it, but immersed in the memory of hunting days. No matter how wonderful the outside world was, he always yearned for forest.
Lao Wan was like those deer tamers who lost spirits... When drinking at night, he remembered old times: sika deer running in groups, big black bears seen occasionally, storks and golden eagles flitting past his feet and many other animals. Lao Wan knew animals more than people.
One day, an opportunity brought him back to the forest he’d been missing for long.
Lao Wan was asked to return to the forest along Huangnihe with a different role. Staff from the reserve administration knew that he was an experienced hunter, so they appointed him as ranger. He readily accepted. Lao Wan was no longer a hunter controlling life and death of animals, but a conservationist of wild animals.
He began to track in the mountain every day, tracking poachers and removing snares. Lao Wan and eleven other rangers in Huangnihe fell in love with the job soon. WWF's anti-poaching training enabled them to do SMART patrols.
In snowy days, it was difficult to move with heavy coats on. Lao Wan and his peers had to start off early. With years of hunting experience, he could immediately be aware of poachers nearby when he saw snares.
Usually, they removed traps first and then tracked poachers. Lao Wan wished to persuade them to give up poaching and join in saving endangered animals.
Over the years as a ranger, Lao Wan also experienced some thrilling moments. He once had "close contact" with a black bear during a patrol. It was a summer. He was looking for clues in the jungle; suddenly, he heard scuffling and rolling over. Lao Wan became alert, and then he saw a shadow.
In an instant, he saw a black bear rushing towards him. His heart was in the mouth. Man was too weak to fight with huge animals. The black bear would probably tear him into pieces. However, it stopped the moment Lao Wan held his breath. Lao Wan looked into its round eyes which were like clear brown amber, without any ferociousness in them, but even a bit of good nature.
Ten minutes later, miraculously, the bear turned around and walked into the forest. At that moment, Lao Wan understood the mixed feelings he once had in hunting: there was no difference between killing an animal that could have grown up freely in the forest and harming a kid who knew nothing of the world. Animals just want to live in places they are familiar with; that's all…
Amur tigers often wander about here. Lao Wan comes several times a month. The infrared camera was set by him. Every time the memory card is taken back, he expects to watch tigers. One day, Lao Wan discovered footprints of tigers. They like lying here.
"The tiger is 7 years old. We’ve been tracking him for years. He’s strong and healthy, just a bit lonely, poor bachelor. Here’s not connected with Hunchun, so other tigers can't come over. We should build a corridor as soon as possible."
In January this year, the fifth tiger habitat ranger competition was held in Hunchun, Jilin Province. 18 teams from China and Russia competed fiercely. WWF designed the "Tiger Cup" to encourage the champion ranger team. Lao Wan and his teammates won the first "King's Cup".
“Our achievements are built on the basis of usual diligent patrol. Holding the heavy "King's Cup", Lao Wan said: "I didn't expect so many people to pay attention on us, from senior officials to the public. I feel the task of protection is heavier. " This year, the competition will be held in Heilongjiang Province in January. We are looking forward to the wonderful performance of the rangers.
With continuous anti-poaching efforts in recent years, there are fewer traps and poachers. Lao Wan and his colleagues have convinced several poachers to join the volunteering patrol team. Forest is still the same one, but there are fewer animals than the time when Lao Wan was young. Lao Wan deeply understands the cause of conservation still has a long way to go.
The job is destined to be tough, but Lao Wan is full of confidence and expectations.
"I hope more young people join in conservation. Although rangers don’t earn much, but the job is good for health and meaningful."
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