Guardians of China's tiger and leopard park
Patrolmen take pride in safeguarding growing number of big cats in Hunchun
The system can automatically recognize more than 30 species, with an accuracy rate of over 90 percent for tiger and leopard identification.
In 2025, it captured 4,054 video clips of Siberian tigers and another 8,607 clips of Amur leopards. "Whenever we discover traces of large wild animals like Siberian tigers and Amur leopards in the system, we link the recording location to pinpoint the site," Duan said. "Using the system's built-in tool, we measure the distance to nearby villages and forest farms, and assess the warning level."
After reporting to relevant departments, warning notifications will be sent to village WeChat groups, Duan said. "Via real-time monitoring, we remind villagers to reduce outings and avoid areas where tigers and leopards have been spotted."
Zhao Yan, deputy director of the scientific research department at the center, said, "In grassroots scientific research, the main advantage is proximity to the site, allowing us to conduct infrared camera maintenance, population density measurement, disease investigation, and tracking of tiger and leopard movements."
