(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-09-07 17:31

Authority in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region have used eagles, foxes to battle rampant rodent plague in the region's northern pasture and the efforts have turned out to be successful.

More than 2.2 million hectares of pasture had been suffering from rodents across Xinjiang since spring, and the worst hit areas were in Altay Pasture, where there were 424 holes of rodents on an average of one ha, and there were 820 rodents in one hole at most.

Growing numbers of rats and other rodents gobble up grass, forcing out sheep. More than 600,000 sheep that depend on Wutubulak Prairie in Fuhai in northern Xinjiang for fodders in winter would face starvation if no measure were taken.

Previously, rat control around the grasslands relied on scattering poison through planes, a practice that is still in use around hard-hit areas in Xinjiang this year.

"The results is not ideal," said Ni Yifei, deputy director of the office for Xinjiang Locust and Rat Control Headquarters.

Now local officials resort to a green answer -- eagles attracted by nesting stands and foxes unleashed on the armies of rats.

"Using these natural predators to kill the rodents is not only inexpensive, it can sustainably control rodent plague and there's not environmental pollution," said Ni.

More than a thousand eagle nests and stands were erected, and 200 foxes bred in captivity were released to chomp through the rats across northern Xinjiang. And the efforts paid off.

A survey carried in August over pastoral areas of about 26,667 hectares suffering serious rodent plague in Fuhai showed the number of rodent holes has dropped by 70 percent since the foxes were unleashed.