The new regulations that will be implemented next month include overcrowding of rescue facilities with elves and uncontrolled feeding, causing raccoons to "deteriorate"

In March of this year, two new members were added to the restoration and wild release project for the extremely small population of elk in Xincun Township, Chongming District, increasing the number of wild elk in Shanghai's first elk wild release habitat from 4 to 6. At present, two young elk deer are growing up healthy, and the names publicly solicited from the society will be announced in November.

On September 21st, a reporter from Jiefang Daily and Shangguan News learned from a briefing held by the Shanghai Municipal Greening and Urban Appearance Bureau that there are currently 22 wildlife habitat projects under construction or under construction in Shanghai. Subsequent evaluations will be conducted according to relevant standards and the habitats that meet the requirements will be announced.

"Win win" between habitat and surrounding areas

According to Liu Xiaoping, a fourth level researcher at the Wildlife and Plant Protection Department of the Shanghai Greening and Urban Appearance Bureau, as of the end of 2022, a total of 518 species of birds, 46 species of mammals, 15 species of amphibians, and 36 species of reptiles have been recorded in the Shanghai area.

How to make these natural spirits live and work in Shanghai in peace and contentment?

Since 2013, Shanghai has innovatively carried out the "Wildlife Habitat Construction" project in areas with good ecological foundations, relatively concentrated distribution of wild animals, and stable land use within the basic ecological space, drawing on the protection models of typical urbanization areas for wildlife habitats at home and abroad.

The construction of wildlife habitats is also the core content of the Shanghai Wildlife Protection Regulations, which will be implemented on October 1, 2023.

With the continuous improvement of public environmental awareness and the continuous promotion of pollution control measures, the ecological environment in Shanghai has been significantly optimized. The 2022 Shanghai Ecological Environment Status Bulletin shows that the annual average concentration of PM2.5 in Shanghai has dropped to 25 micrograms per cubic meter, the lowest value since monitoring records began; Among the main river and lake sections, Class II to Class III water quality sections account for 95.6%, while Class V sections have disappeared; The forest coverage rate reached 18.51%.

However, good air quality, good water quality, and abundant trees are just basic thresholds. There is still a lot of knowledge to truly enable various wild animals to live and work in peace and contentment.

The Regulations require relevant departments to investigate, monitor, and evaluate the habitat conditions in Shanghai, prepare habitat protection plans, and take various measures to restore degraded habitats in their original state. After repair, the competent department will evaluate and list the items that meet the requirements, and carefully maintain and manage them according to relevant technical specifications.

For construction projects that may affect habitats, the Regulations require avoidance or measures to be taken to eliminate or reduce adverse effects. The planning and resource department should seek opinions on the design scheme of the construction project and clearly prohibit behaviors that damage the habitat environment and facilities and equipment.

Green mountains and clear waters are like mountains of gold and silver. The planning, construction, and operation maintenance of wildlife habitats must consider how to achieve a win-win situation with the development of surrounding communities. The Regulations specify that scientific investigations, popular science education, natural tourism, and other activities can be carried out based on the actual situation of habitats, in order to better play the ecological service function of wildlife habitats.

In the Binjiang Forest Park of Shanghai, newly released water deer jump and jump happily. In November 2009, 12 water deer were transported from the source base of Huaxia Park to become the earliest "indigenous residents" here. In January of the following year, 2 more were added. In the following years, the population of water deer in the park remained at around 30. Chen Xi shook the camera

Expand the channels for shelter and rescue

The current situation and operation of the wildlife shelter and rescue system in Shanghai still have a significant gap from the ideal state, but the demand for wildlife shelter and rescue is constantly increasing.

According to data provided by the Shanghai Forestry Station, from January to August this year, the city received a total of 1087 rescues for wild animals, with the highest number being 359 in Pudong and 141 in Jiading.

According to statistics, as of the beginning of 2021, Shanghai Zoo has housed a total of 981 out of 132 species of animals, including 718 out of 61 species of two reptiles, with the highest proportion of the population.

In response to the continuous high number of wild animals being taken in care of and the heavy burden on designated care institutions, the Regulations require the competent authorities to strengthen the construction of care and rescue capabilities. At the same time, it is clear that organizations and individuals engaged in scientific research and artificial breeding of wild animals can participate in care and rescue work in accordance with the law, further expanding the channels for care and rescue.

"On the one hand, we need to control the source, crack down severely on illegal trade, strongly condemn abandonment, unscientific release, and other behaviors. On the other hand, we need to actively seek cooperation with social forces." Li Zirong, Deputy Director of Shanghai Forestry Station, said that the reception and rescue of wild animals in cities is a way for citizens to easily establish connections with wild animals. We welcome social organizations, scientific research units, enterprises and institutions that have the conditions, technology, and ability to assist in carrying out reception and rescue work to participate.

This year, the first district level professional terrestrial wildlife shelter and rescue station in Shanghai was opened at the bank of the Huangpu River in Pudong New Area. The "exotic pets" seized or abandoned by law enforcement authorities, as well as the accidentally injured turtles, lizards and other wild animals, have been photographed and cared for in the central urban area of Shanghai center, where there is a lot of land. It is reported that the Shanghai Nature Wildlife Insect Museum has provided the venue and technical strength, and has also taken the initiative to bear the daily operation and maintenance costs of the shelter and rescue point.

This model of introducing third-party collaboration from society will be replicated and promoted in Shanghai.

"We have found that there is a lack of professional rescue personnel, such as veterinarians, in our work. Therefore, we encourage some qualified and high-level pet hospitals to participate in certain shelter work by hiring special veterinarians or listing them as temporary shelter and rescue points." Li Zirong said, it should be reminded that due to the professionalism of wildlife shelter and rescue work, individuals who do not have the necessary conditions are still not encouraged to participate. If citizens encounter similar situations, the best way is to promptly inform the wilderness protection department and let professionals handle it.

In the eyes of many wildlife activists, conditions like the land wildlife shelter and rescue points in Pudong New Area are equivalent to "five-star hotels," as captured by Chen Xi

Prohibit feeding wild animals

The scientific approach to wildlife is the "four no's": no fear, no feeding, no contact, and no harm.

Taking the national second level protected animal raccoon as an example, in recent years, due to human indulgence, such as uncontrolled feeding by some community residents, the number of raccoon dogs in the community has increased sharply, and it has also led to abnormal behavior of raccoon dogs. People believe that feeding is a natural thing, and they are not afraid of humans and have a bad temper.

For the first time nationwide, the Regulations prohibit feeding wild animals that grow and reproduce naturally in the wild environment.

"However, regarding the issue of feeding stray cats and dogs, which has been widely reported by citizens, as stray cats and dogs do not belong to wild animals, they cannot be dealt with according to the" Regulations "at the moment. Advocacy clauses are mainly used as reminders. Liu Xiaoping said that the green department will reduce uncontrolled feeding behavior by strengthening civilization advocacy, popularizing science, and other methods, such as fixed and timed feeding, feeding when seeing stray cats and dogs, cleaning the site after feeding, and setting up feeding points at heights that raccoons cannot reach.".

It should be emphasized that harmonious coexistence with wildlife is not a unilateral obligation of government authorities or some communities. Wildlife protection requires the attention and participation of the whole society.

The Regulations regard social governance as one of the principles of protection work, and put forward specific requirements from various aspects such as protection patrols, publicity and education, donations and subsidies, volunteer services, industry self-discipline, credit management, complaints and reports.

In August this year, a community management manual for common urban wildlife in Shanghai, jointly developed by Shanghai Forestry Station, Shanghai Wildlife Conservation Association, Fudan University, Shanshui Nature Conservation Center, and other units, was released.

This community management manual is the first customized "guide" for people living under the same roof as wildlife in Shanghai to achieve harmonious coexistence. It also provides personalized solutions for residents, neighborhood committees/property owners, and other different groups of people.

In the future, many communities will extract and absorb the experience of harmonious coexistence with raccoons and successful control of raccoon populations into this community management manual, promoting and popularizing it to more communities. This is a social governance model worth advocating.

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