Dedication of plateau patrollers moves filmmakers

Tsultrim Tharchen is a close friend of Zhang. He is the captain of 42 wildlife rangers in the Xizang Serling Tso National Nature Reserve and has been working there for over 15 years.

"Having spent so much time with animals, it seems that Tibetan antelopes and black-necked cranes are not afraid of him. He has developed a sensitive eye for any changes in nature. He loves photography, and we have discovered that he has a unique eye as a wildlife photographer," Zhang said.

Therefore, Zhang and her team began teaching him how to use high-definition cameras and drones for aerial photography.

In April, they collaborated to produce a public service short film titled Giving Voice to the Voiceless Wildlife, which garnered hundreds of thousands of views online. One comment read, "We never expected there to be such a group of people in Xizang who genuinely love and protect wildlife."

Since last year, Zhang and her team provided free photography training for wildlife rangers, hoping that by empowering those closest to nature to capture more precious moments, they can enhance their skills and increase their income.

"Many rangers hadn't a clue when we first gave them these cameras, but now they can proficiently capture the animals they encounter on patrol. We also teach them how to publish their work on resource websites, where users pay to download it. We hope that in the future, they may even win prizes in photography competitions," Zhang said.