For over 40 years, Xi Zhinong has carried his camera into the remotest corners of the Chinese mainland, capturing the delicate balance between endangered wildlife and local communities.
In the early 1980s, Xi’s lens first focused on the elusive Yunnan snub-nosed monkey, a species then numbering fewer than 500. His vivid images helped spark global interest and scientific surveys, which now estimate the population has grown by over 20% due to strict protection measures.
Xi later followed herder communities across the Himalayan highlands, documenting their age-old traditions of safeguarding snow leopards. His photos highlight how more than 200 villages now play a direct role in monitoring and protecting these big cats, blending cultural heritage with modern conservation science.
Through time-lapse sequences, data visualization overlays, and personal interviews, Xi’s work has influenced policy—from expanding nature reserves in Yunnan to launching international research partnerships studying alpine ecosystems.
Today, as climate change and development pressures rise, Xi’s four decades of photography stand as a powerful reminder: safeguarding biodiversity requires collaboration between scientists, local stewards, and storytellers. His journey inspires a new generation of global citizens to use creativity and data-driven insights in the fight for nature.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
