Drought severely endangers Yunnan's wild animals and plants

Not only has the continued drought in southwestern China caused shortages in drinking water for humans and animals alike, but it has also severely affected the survival and reproduction of wild animals and plants.

Statistics show that around 5,000 square kilometers of natural preservation area has suffered from the drought, including about 67 square kilometers that was heavily affected. Certain natural preservation areas that are characterized by a small area and ecological fragility are facing the exhaustion of water resources and the contraction of wetland areas. Wild animals and plants there lack water resources and food.

According to monitoring by the Forestry Department of Yunnan Province, massive numbers of cycas panzhihuaensis trees and around 20 percent of young pinus parviflora trees in the Yaoshan National Nature Reserve, Qiaojia County, Zhaotong, have died. Furthermore, 156 cycas panzhihuaensis trees in Nanhua County, Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture have also died from the drought.

More than 100 burretiodendron hsienmu trees, which are under second-class state protection, in Daweishan National Nature Reserve, Hekou Yao Autonomous County, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture are also close to death after their leaves dried up and fell. Some of the 237 taxus chinensis trees and around 3,000 davidia trees, which are under first-class state protection, in Baima Snow Mountain National Nature Reserve are also dead.

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