The story of love and sacrifice made for the protection of endangered cranes has created a stir, after the second season of The Readers, a popular Chinese literary TV program, aired a story told by a third-generation protector.

Xu Tielin, a first-generation crane guardian

Xu Zhuo, a third-generation crane guardian who shares her hometown with the beautiful birds, read a passage by writer Zhang Kangkang, expressing the species’ elegance and her whole family’s connection with the conservation of the animal.

Xu Tielin, a fisherman living in the Zhalong wetlands of northeast China’s Heilongjiang province, has been devoted to crane protection for half a century, ever since he first saved an injured red-crowned crane.

Xiujuan, a second-generation crane guardian

In 1979, the Zhalong National Nature Reserve was founded to protect endangered red-crowned cranes. Xu Tielin and his wife became the first full-time crane breeders in China and thus first-generation crane protectors. Later, their children Xiujuan and Jianfeng joined the cause. Tragically, the brother and sister both ended up becoming martyrs for environmental protection.

In 1987, Xiujuan was just 23 years old when she drowned due to exhaustion in search for a lost bird. Xiujuan’s younger brother Jianfeng met a similar fate, dying on the journey back from a routine nest check in 2014.

Jianfeng, , a second-generation crane guardian

After the passing of the second generation, the family’s third generation, Xu Zhuo, Xiujuan’s niece and Jianfeng’s daughter, took over the job in the wetlands.

The Xu family devoted their youth and even lives to continue the family business in wildlife protection, revealing the power of determination and faith.

The Readers kicked off last year as a talk show to bring heartwarming stories to Chinese audiences through storytelling. This year saw the debut of the second series with

more real and touching stories.

Xu Zhuo, a third-generation crane guardian