Officials with the Kekexilli Nature Reserve are offering qualified volunteers the opportunity to spend a month in the northwest province of Qinghai working to protect the endangered Tibetan antelope, which is threatened by rampant illegal poaching.

Beginning in May, the reserve will recruit six volunteers from around the nation every month to help educate people living around the reserve about the threats the antelopes face, and local poaching laws.

"We may consider permitting volunteers to join us in patrolling against illegal hunting if they really want to," said Cai Ga, director of the bureau that manages the reserve.

The reserve is one of the main habitats for Tibetan antelopes, which have seen their numbers drop to under 70,000 worldwide, down from several million a century ago.

The number of antelopes decreases by about 20,000 every year, due to poaching.

"We have about 40,000 Tibetan antelopes left in the reserve," said Cai.

The reserve with more than 50 guardians will begin looking for volunteers in Shanghai next month. Applicants must be under the age of 45, have at least a two-year college education, be willing to live in the wild, and be in excellent health as the reserve is 5,000 meters above sea level.

Any Shanghai residents, including foreigners, can apply to volunteer by contacting the Shanghai Morning Post.

( eastday.com February 15, 2002)