Observations of large mammals in the Qaidam Basin and its peripheral mountainous areas in the People's Republic of China

Abstract

During the last 30 years, the human population of the Qaidam Basin in the People's Republic of China increased 27-fold. Much grassland was placed under cultivation, and vegetation on some sandy areas was nearly destroyed and remains in poor condition. Forests in the eastern region of the basin were degraded, and the total forest area was reduced. In addition, the number of domestic animals increased sharply, resulting in overloading of pastures; man-made disturbances, including hunting, increased enormously. For these reasons, the vegetative cover of the basin has been reduced, influencing the survival of wild animals. The senior author surveyed the basin during 1971, and the authors made a second survey in August and September of 1986. Several species of large mammals had apparently become extinct in the basin proper. Although the climate was more severe, there were more species of wild animals and their numbers were greater in the mountainous areas because of fewer disturbances. The authors offer views and suggestions on the protection and utilization of wild mammals of the basin.