Rangers' uphill battle to save mountain wildlife
Patrol teams trek through deep snow to ensure animals get enough food to survive the tough northern winter.
Modernization
Now, both the rangers' equipment and salaries have improved. Every team is equipped with handsets, GPS devices, tents and down-filled sleeping bags. The rangers earn about 3,000 yuan ($446) a month, plus a subsidy of 20 yuan each day they leave base and trek in the mountains, according to the center.
However, compared with other, less arduous work, some new rangers say the salary isn't worth all the hardships they endure, so they quit and find other jobs.
In response, Sun said the animal-protection teams have an unspoken belief that rangers who can handle the first year and decide to stay with the job will never leave.
"Rangers in a team are like families and brothers in arms. We stay together 24 hours a day and go through lots of tough and dangerous situations. All the people here have the same desire-to protect the Changbai Mountains," he said.
Sun said he will stay with the job because he enjoys the working environment. He relishes the opportunity to walk in the forest and breathe the pure air.
He has a 15-year-old daughter and a 4-year-old son, but he is afraid that they will not have the chance to see the wide range of wildlife if there aren't enough rangers to preserve the forest environment and help the animals to survive.
"If they cannot see any wild animals or blue sky, we will be the generation to blame. I won't let that happen, not least for my children's sake," he said.
