5G TECHNOLOGY USED FOR TIBETAN CHIRUS

By Our Wildlife Correspondent

What has 5G telecommunications technology has to do with the Chiru antelopes found in remote parts of Tibet and to  some  extent in Ladakh? The broadband cellular networks, mostly for cell phones, is helping in conservation of rare  antelopes since it is their crucial breeding season . 

Situated at an average altitude of over 4,600 meters in the Sanjiangyuan National Park,  the  Hoh   Xil Nature Reserve had long suffered from a lack of communication signals, except for the  route along the Qinghai-Tibet Highway. Entering the nature reserve meant being isolated from the outside world, especially in the Drolkar Lake area. 

Under first-class state protection in China, Tibetan antelopes, a once-endangered species, are mostly found in the Tibet Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province, and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Currently, the breeding season for Tibetan antelopes is underway. Every year, tens of thousands of pregnant Tibetan antelopes start their migration to Hoh Xil from May to give birth. The Drolkar Lake area in Hoh Xil is a crucial birthplace of the species.

On May 31,  a  5G base station started operation in the preservation station of the Drolkar Lake covering the heartland of the UNESCO natural heritage site. Based on the geographical factors and ecological monitoring requirements, the park chose to set up the 5G base station in the Drolkar Lake area, which can better monitor the migration and delivery of Tibetan antelopes. The preservation station rescues a number of calves every year. One can now have video calls with professional veterinarians through cell phones to receive timely treatment guidance for sick calves.

To minimize the ecological impact of the construction of the 5G base station, the Qinghai branch of China Mobile, a telecom giant in China, introduced large- bandwidth and long- distance microwave transmission for the first time in the high-altitude and uninhabited areas. More advanced technologies, such as 5G remote patrolling and helicopters, will be introduced to enhance anti-poaching and monitoring capabilities of the reserve.

Tens  of  thousands of female Chirus are making a journey to the  Hoh  Xil  region in northwest China’s Qinghai Province crossing hundreds of miles only to give birth in a suitable environment. Chirus were first recorded in Nepal but became almost extinct in the former Himalayan Kingdom. They are also spotted in Ladakh region of India bordering   Pakistan and Tibet. The Tibetan antelope  are  hunted for  their  extremely soft, light and warm underfur which is usually obtained after killing. This underfur, known as shahtoosh (a Persian word meaning “king of fine wools”), is used to weave luxury shawls.

The females in hordes migrate each year to calving grounds in the summer, where they usually give birth to a single calf, and re-join the  males  at the wintering grounds in late autumn. The rutting season lasts from November to December. Males form harems of up to 12 females, and drive off other males. Mothers give birth to a calf in June or July, after a gestation period of about six months. The calves are precocial, being able to stand within 15 minutes of birth.