Shanxi Yangqu County rescues albino green iguana and red fox, national second-level protected animals

China News Service, Taiyuan, May 22 (Liu Xiaohong) Recently, the Forestry Bureau of Yangqu County, Shanxi Province received calls for help from the public and successfully rescued an albino green iguana and a red fox, two national second-level protected wild animals. Both animals were successfully handed over to professional institutions for treatment and conservation.

The picture shows a rescued albino green iguana. Photo courtesy of Yangqu County Media Center

It is understood that the Yangqu County Forestry Bureau recently received a call for help from people in Lujiahe Village, Nitun Town. People discovered a lizard in the village and immediately reported it to the forestry department because they could not identify the species.

Forestry staff rushed to the scene to investigate and confirmed that the creature was an albino green iguana. The staff verified that the species information was clear. The albino green iguana is an albino variant of the American green iguana. Its native place is Central and South America. It is an exotic species and is listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. It is managed as a national secondary protected wild animal in China. On-site inspection showed that the albino green iguana had no obvious trauma and its vital signs were stable. The staff handed it over to Taiyuan Zoo in accordance with regulations and carried out follow-up professional care.

The Yangqu County Forestry Bureau also successfully rescued a red fox on May 8. On that day, people in Xinzhuang Village, Gaocun Township, found a wild animal that was unable to move normally in the railway water channel in the village, and immediately reported it to the forestry department.

The staff arrived at the scene and identified the animal as a red fox, a national second-level protected animal. On-site investigation found that the red fox had obvious trauma on its body surface and legs, and had lost its ability to stand and walk normally, but its vital signs were stable. The staff captured and transferred the red fox and sent it to Taiyuan Zoo for professional treatment and care.

The Taiyuan Municipal Planning and Natural Resources Bureau’s Wildlife Protection Section reminded that wild animals maintain regional ecological balance and citizens must fulfill their responsibilities for wildlife protection. If the public encounters injured, trapped, or abnormal wild animals by chance, they are prohibited from catching, touching, handling, or releasing them at will. They can contact the forestry department or public security agency for immediate disposal, so as to jointly protect the living environment of wild animals and protect biodiversity. (over)