Capturing Nature’s Essence: A Visual Crusade for Conservation

Over 150 individuals congregated in Dali, Yunnan province, to commemorate the inauguration of Xi Zhinong’s retrospective photography exhibition at his Wild China Museum on December 18.

Among the attendees were online environmental influencers, writers focused on popular science, some of the nation’s finest wildlife photographers, publishing house editors, managers of several national nature reserves, and even a local official from a secluded township in far-flung Qinghai province.

Many have regarded him as a role model and have drawn motivation from him for years. Numerous attendees had joined Xi’s wildlife photography workshops, viewing him as a guide. Others became acquainted with him through various projects and consider him a companion.

READ MORE: Celebrating the marvels of nature

“An individual emerged in this world to motivate others. Xi Zhinong is surely one such admirable figure. For us, Xi is primarily a conservationist, and afterward a wildlife photographer,” one guest remarked during the exhibition’s opening, held to pay tribute to Xi’s extraordinary 40-year commitment to wildlife photography in China.

A Dali native, the 60-year-old is the originator of the Wild China studio and museum. He has received numerous accolades, including the esteemed Gerald Durrell Endangered Species Photographer of the Year award, the BBC’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year award, and the 2022 National Geographic Society’s “Wayfinder” award. He was listed as one of the 40 most influential conservation photographers in the globe by Outdoor Photography Magazine, and is the only Chinese photographer to achieve membership in the esteemed International League of Conservation Photographers.

Xi’s prominence among his contemporaries in Chinese wildlife photography is attributable not only to his outstanding photographs and films showcasing China’s varied flora and fauna, but also to the significant influence exerted by his multitude of works.

By concentrating on various species across the years, Xi has been instrumental in rescuing a number of wildlife species on the verge of extinction.

Through environmental initiatives, he has become a vital advocate for endangered species and a champion for ecological issues, embodying his principle of “protecting wildlife through photography”.

The current exhibition emphasizes five wildlife species: the Yunnan snub-nosed monkey, black-necked crane, Tibetan antelope, snow leopard, and green peafowl.

“Every photo of these species illustrates their bond with Xi,” stated Hou Lijuan, Xi’s agent. “Without his imagery (and related ecological efforts), their destinies would have been remarkably different.”

Monkeys and antelopes

After completing high school in 1983, Xi commenced his career as a photography assistant to Wang Zijiang, an educator from Yunnan University, working on the production of a documentary centered on birds.

In 1984, fueled by a desire to capture birds in mid-flight, Xi invested approximately 500 yuan ($68) to acquire his first camera, a sum that represented nearly five months of his earnings.

Upon participating in a survey of the black-necked crane in 1990, he succeeded in capturing the nation’s first images of the endangered bird wintering in Yunnan.

From 1992 to 1994, he took part in a research endeavor on Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys within the province’s Baima Snow Mountain Nature Reserve.

It required him three years and six treks into the mountains to obtain his initial frontal photographs of these elusive creatures.

During this time, he became aware of a logging company’s plans to clear the Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys’ habitat, which prompted him to write a letter to a State councilor. This initiative led to the formation of the Green Student Camp, a grassroots environmental campaign that ultimately preserved the monkeys’ habitat.

At the Green Student Camp taking place in the Baima Snow Mountains, he met his future spouse, Shi Lihong, a reporter from Beijing. After marrying Xi, Shi left her job and subsequently relocated with him to Yunnan. Together with two other wildlife photographers, they established the Wild China studio in 2002. In 2022, the couple transformed their residence in Dali into the Wild China Museum.

One of his images featuring the monkeys was published in National Geographic magazine in 1995, bringing international attention to the species. “It was destiny that led me to the monkeys in the wild,” he remarked on several occasions. “Without that encounter, I would not have pursued my path as a wildlife photographer.”

Working as an investigative reporter with China Central Television in 1997, he traveled to the remote expanse of Hoh Xil on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, exposing the threats faced by Tibetan antelopes due to rampant poaching. At one isolated location, he witnessed hundreds of deceased Tibetan antelopes.

“I could only capture images, yet I felt grateful to be there,” he stated. “It allowed me to reveal the entirety of wild nature to the audience, a realm embodying both stunning beauty and harsh, stark truths.”

Thanks to his visual artistry, more individuals have become aware of Hoh Xil and the adjacent Sanjiangyuan region, a sanctuary for numerous distinctive wildlife species. Subsequently, a national nature reserve was established to protect Hoh Xil, and Sanjiangyuan has evolved into the nation’s largest national park. The population of Tibetan antelopes in the country has risen from 60,000 in the 1990s to 400,000 currently.

Leopards and peafowl

In January 2016, Xi launched the Nomad Photographer Development Program after coming across two nomads who captured a snow leopard using a compact camera in the Sanjiangyuan region of Qinghai.

He offered to equip them with better tools and teach them photography techniques. By the year 2020, the program had prepared over 40 nomads to photograph wildlife.

Three participants from his course became head cameramen for Xi’s wildlife documentary film, Snow Leopards and Friends. Released in August 2023, the film, featuring invaluable footage from Xi and these nomad photographers, garnered widespread attention to the current status of snow leopards and received the Golden Rooster Award for Best Documentary/Science Education Film that year.

To document a snow leopard mother caring for two cubs in a cave situated 5,200 meters above sea level, Xi and his Tibetan cameramen set up a camp at 4,700 meters and remained for 35 days. Daily, they would ascend 500 meters to reach the filming location. For one of his Tibetan photographers, Xi mentioned that the

climb required 20 minutes.

“However, it took me one hour and 20 minutes to reach the summit,” he remarked. “With their keen eyesight and physical stamina, they are true experts of the rough landscape.”

The six-year endeavor not only transformed the local community’s perspective towards wildlife, but also enhanced the living conditions of snow leopards and other species dwelling in the area.

“For local nomads, photography has transitioned into a favored lifestyle,” Xi mentioned. “With the income obtained from selling caterpillar fungus, they now choose to upgrade their photography gear instead of purchasing new motorcycles or cars.”

In 2017, he received distressing news that one of the few remaining refuges for the endangered green peafowl — a species under State first-class protection due to its declining population of fewer than 500 birds — was threatened by a hydroelectric dam project. Alarmed by this immediate danger, he organized a team of colleagues to perform an on-site evaluation.

“In China, the green peafowl is only found in Yunnan, and it previously inhabited forests bordering some major rivers, such as the Jinsha and Lancang (Mekong) rivers,” Xi stated. “Over the years, they have disappeared from many of these environments, now existing only in a few remote locations along the Honghe River. As a local photographer from Yunnan, I felt a sense of responsibility in fulfilling my duty.”

In response to this emergency, he led an environmental campaign in partnership with grassroots conservation organizations to oppose the dam’s establishment. This united effort resulted in a civil lawsuit against the project developers, which led to a cessation of the construction. Thanks to these collective measures, the green peafowl’s habitat was protected from further devastation.

“I perceive myself as a messenger or a connector,” Xi said. “Through my creations, I aim to enable more individuals to witness the genuine forest and authentic nature.”

Training, livestreaming

Over the years, his tireless efforts in encouraging and inspiring more individuals to engage in environmental conservation have been steadfast.

In December 2004, Xi launched the China Wildlife Photography Training Camp project, specifically aimed at nature reserve rangers and researchers.

Throughout 20 years, this yearly training program has successfully equipped nearly 800 participants. Several of them have developed into prominent figures within China’s wildlife photography scene, while some have advanced to managerial roles in various nature reserves.

An outstanding speaker, Xi has valued every chance to share his narratives about animals and nature, alongside his views on conservation. He has embraced livestreaming on social media platforms to engage and motivate a wider audience.

Xi mentioned that he began exploring new modes of communication in 2017 during his involvement in a wildlife observation festival in Qinghai. Subsequently, he livestreamed the blooming of rhododendron flowers and the spotting of a blood pheasant atop the Cangshan Mountains.

“When Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys encountered threats, I penned a letter to the authorities; regarding the poaching of Tibetan antelopes, I communicated the issue on CCTV; for endangered green peafowls, I initially shared insights on our (Wild China) WeChat public account before revealing the crisis through Sina Weibo,” Xi stated. “To connect with a larger audience and expand our influence, we must adapt to contemporary trends.”

READ MORE: Wildlife snapper trains lens on plateau

For similar reasons, he considers documentary films to be the most effective medium to showcase the enchanting appeal of China’s wildlife.

“TV’s influence has diminished, while short videos tend to be excessively fragmented. Conversely, films on the big screen provide viewers with an immersive one-hour experience,” he remarked.