:04:00
Kekexili,
:04:01
the last virgin
wilderness of China.
:04:04
Nearly four miles high.
:04:17
This plain is the only remaining
habitat of the Tibetan antelope.
:04:25
In 1985,
:04:26
Poachers began hunting
antelopes for their fine wool,
:04:28
which was prized in
foreign markets.
:04:33
Within a few years,
:04:34
the number of antelopes plunged
from one million to under ten thousand.
:04:41
To fight the poachers, a volunteer
civilian patrol was formed in 1993.
:04:45
It was led by Ritai,
a retired Tibetan army officer.
:04:48
The patrol fought fierce
battles with the poachers
:04:50
and aroused the attention
of the outside world.
:05:01
In the winter of 1996,
:05:02
Poachers murdered
one of the patrol men.
:05:06
My newspaper quickly
sent me to cover the story.
:05:46
(Tibetan) Hey Mister.
Take our picture. Good morning.
:05:58
(Tibetan) Where's Ritai?