(CN) Animals eating into farmers' livelihoods

November 27, 2000

The number of wild animals in nature reserves is increasing but they are

frustrating local people because their crops are being eaten, according to China

Green Times.

This happens in the Subtropical Broadleaf Nature Reserve in Xishui County in

Guizhou Province, where there are abundant woods and wild animals. These animals

include pheasants, monkeys and boars and lately they are going into the fields

and eating crops.

They also dig up newly sown seeds.

Farmers cannot hunt them as they are protected by law, so the animals can only

be driven away by yelling. But the creatures often ignore the shouts.

Around 6,000 people live in the reserve and their lives all depend on farming.

As there is not much fertile land in the reserve, farmers have to use every

spare patch to grow corn, potatoes and other vegetables.

But the peaceful self-sufficient days are gone.

" I ought to be able to harvest 750 kilograms from my 0.4 hectare land but now I

don't get more than 250 kilograms, " said farmer Xiao Jianguo.

In the region, people's average annual income is no more than 300 yuan (US$36).

" We can neither chop down trees nor can we hunt the wild animals and there are

few plants we can grow properly at the moment. What shall we do? " Xiao asked.

People all approve protecting the reserve, but he said he hoped the government

could help solve the current problem.

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11/27/2000

Author: GUO JIAN'ER, China Daily staff

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