"There are no particular requirements for an applicant's age, gender or vocation, but we require good health and work attitude and a love of animals," said Cega, director of the Administrative Bureau of the Hoh Xil Nature Reserve.

The Hoh Xil Nature Reserve, founded in 1995, covers 45,000 square kilometers at an average elevation of 4,600 meters. It is home to many rare species including the Tibetan antelope, the yak,wild donkey and other plateau animals.

Considering Hoh Xil's harsh natural conditions and frigid winter weather, volunteers will be on patrol only from June to August. Each team will be consisted of five or six volunteers and each volunteer will work in the mountains for about two weeks, Cega said.

Patrol teams made up of 60 bureau staff go into mountains several times a year to investigate the distribution and living conditions of endangered Tibetan antelopes and to fight against poaching.

"The purpose of the current volunteer recruitment is not because we are shorthanded, but is to raise people's awareness of the importance of protecting the Tibetan antelope and to reject the use of products made from antelope wool as well as to denouncepoaching and antelope trafficking," he added.

To protect the safety of volunteers, training courses on how to deal with wolf attacks and how to adapt to the plateau climate will be given before they are sent to mountains.

(China Daily December 14, 2001)