Protection work has helped Tibetan species increase its population in wild Tibetan antelopes cross a road in Yushu, Northwest China's Qinghai province, May 15, 2018. [Photo/VCG] An escort convoy will begin a one-month journey in the next few days to protect pregnant Tibetan antelopes that will travel hundreds of kilometers from Qinghai province to the Tibet autonomous region to give birth. The team, organized by the Qumalai management office at Three-River-Source National Park in Qinghai province, consists of 40 experienced workers who have been involved in Tibetan antelope protection work for years. Every summer, 5,000 to 6,000 pregnant Tibetan antelopes travel along fixed routes from the Lechi grassland in Qinghai to Hoh Xil in Tibet to give birth. The rich variety of food and a relatively safe environment are favorable for breeding and raising baby antelopes. Soon afterward, the females make the return journey with their calves. Gasang, director of the management office, said that a single trip on the mass migration is typically about 260 km. To minimize human influence on the migration, the convoy escort will ride motorcycles and keep a distance from the group, he said. According to Gasang, Tibetan antelopes are at risk of being attacked by wild animals and human poachers during the migration. Since 2006, local people have organized a volunteer association to protect the rare species. The convoy escort will follow the migration group back and forth between Qinghai and Tibet. During the trip, they will also record the antelope's daily activities and the number of newborns to build a database for further studies, said Han Jianwu, deputy director of the management office. In the future, Han said, the team will be equipped with high-tech facilities to better monitor the migration. Experts will also be invited to train team members who might need to give emergency medical treatment to injured or sick antelopes. The Tibetan antelope is timid by nature. It can run in bursts up to 80 kilometers per hour. In 2008, it was listed as an endangered species on the Red List of Threatened Species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. According to a report released by the State Council, the population of wild Tibetan antelopes in China has increased from 60,000 in 2000 to more than 200,000 in 2016, thanks to the protection work. Last year, the central government announced it was setting aside 2 percent of the country's land to protect giant pandas, Siberian tigers, leopards and Tibetan antelopes in four approved national parks, including Three-River-Source National Park, which covers 215,000 square kilometers at the headwaters of the Yangtze, Yellow and Lancang rivers. wristbands canadacustom silicone bracelets canadarubber bracelets canadasilicone bracelets canadasilicone wristbands canadacustom wristbands canadacanadian wristbandswristbands canada
He Jiankui is reflected in a glass panel as he works at a computer at a laboratory in Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong province, Oct 10, 2018. [Photo/IC] GUANGZHOU, Jan. 21 -- A preliminary investigation into the claimed genetically edited babies shows that Chinese researcher He Jiankui had defied government bans and conducted the research in the pursuit of personal fame and gain. The investigation team of Guangdong Province announced on Monday that He had intentionally dodged supervision, raised funds and organized researchers on his own to carry out the human embryo gene-editing intended for reproduction, which is explicitly banned by relevant regulations. He Jiankui, associate professor with Shenzhen-based Southern University of Science and Technology, claimed in November 2018 that the world's first genetically edited babies were born, and their DNA was altered to prevent them from contracting HIV. According to the investigation, in June 2016, He started the project and organized a team that included some overseas members. He conducted the gene-editing activities using technologies without safety and effectiveness guarantee. With a fake ethical review certificate, He recruited eight volunteer couples (the males tested positive for the HIV antibody, females tested negative for the HIV antibody) and carried out experiments from March 2017 to November 2018. As HIV carriers are not allowed to have assisted reproduction, He asked others to replace the volunteers to take blood tests and asked researchers to edit genes on human embryos and implant them into the females' body. Two volunteers were pregnant. One gave birth to twin girls Lulu and Nana. The other is still pregnant. One couple quit the experiment halfway through, and the other five couples did not conceive. The activities seriously violated ethical principles and scientific integrity and breached relevant regulations of China, according to the investigation. Officials in charge of the investigation said, He, as well as other relevant personnel and organizations, will receive punishment according to laws and regulations. Those who are suspected of committing crimes will be transferred to the public security department. The babies and the pregnant volunteer will receive medical observation and follow-up visits.
