At 9:34 PM on January 2, an unexpected and heartwarming scene unfolded at the Guoyuan Hotel in Muyu Town, Shennongjia Forestry District. Two tourists from China Three Gorges University(CTGU), while taking a walk, encountered a special "visitor"—a male sika deer, a first-class nationally protected species. The sudden appearance of the deer disrupted the hotel’s tranquility. Initially startled by the large animal, the tourists concerned for its safety and feared it might get injured in the town, so they immediately called the police. Thus a heartfelt rescue operation began.
Recently, the Shennongding Scenic Area within Shennongjia National Park has frequently witnessed sightings of the Chinese goral, a national second-level protected wild species. This phenomenon not only showcases the continuous improvement of the ecological environment in the Shennongjia region but also reflects China's significant achievements in wildlife protection.
With a forest coverage rate of 91.1%,
Shennongjia homes to over 460 bird species,
accounting for 80% of total bird species in Hubei Province (580 species)
and over 30% of the nation's total.
In March and April every year, the ice and snow have melted in the Dalongtan area of Shennongjia. After suddenly getting warmer, the weather has turned cold again. The Wushan salamanders (Liua shihi) are hidden deep among the stones. Driven by sexual impulse, they will go to extraordinary lengths to attract members of the opposite sex with their blood boiling, so that they can mate and reproduce. Their privacy is rarely invaded, and their tracks are always hard to detect. However, they will lay their eggs in a place that sunlight can reach under the water. Therefore, this season is also the right time to search for salamanders’ eggs and conduct research on their reproduction.
On March 11, the Shennongding Agency of the Administration of Shennongjia National Park organized the Wenshui Management and Conservation Center, the Shennongding Management and Conservation Center, and part-time forest rangers to participate in the tree-planting activities held across the Administration, contributing to ecological conservation and the forming of an ecological green belt.