Beast Studio

Liu Wei saw many incredible images at Hunter's base. Hunter's ability to capture these precious images was not just luck, but the result of years of investment and time.

Have a night's rest.

Early in the morning, Liu Wei got up and walked out of the room. Several warthogs were wandering outside Hunter's base. Hunter's daughter Aguila, only seven and a half years old, stood very bravely in front of the warthogs, waving her arms as if to fight with the warthogs. What do pigs communicate with!

Hunter prepared a simple breakfast and delivered it to Liu Wei, and said with a smile, "Liu! The checkpoint is not far ahead. After eating, I will take you there. I am very familiar with them!"

Liu Wei smiled and nodded.

Had breakfast.

The two went to the checkpoint together.

The checkpoint occupies a large area but has only a few bungalows.

The ranger leader walked up to Hunter with an SKS rifle in his hand. The two shook hands and leaned against each other's shoulders. "Old man, why did you want to come over and take a look today?"

Hunter introduced: "This is Liu Wei, a wildlife researcher from China. Bring him here to experience your life!"

"Chinese?" asked the black team leader.

Liu Wei nodded.

The black leader turned back and waved to a female ranger sitting in front of the door, "Maria! Come here!"

Maria also held a small-caliber rifle in her hand, and the black men sitting side by side with her held rifles such as AK47 and M16A1.

She walked up to the team leader, and the black team leader introduced Liu Wei in a surprised tone, "Malia, he is Liu Wei, Chinese!"

A bright smile appeared on Maria's dark face, and she said a familiar name, "Ma Yun?"

Liu Wei smiled awkwardly and nodded, "Jack Ma is an excellent Chinese entrepreneur!"

The black team leader introduced: "Malia was selected for the African Ranger award list this year. She will go to the capital to receive the award tomorrow, and Jack Ma will also attend the award ceremony!"

oh!

No wonder when the Chinese are mentioned, the rangers can’t help but say Jack Ma’s name.

In 2017, Jack Ma announced that the Alibaba Community Chest and the Peach Blossom Spring Foundation would jointly launch the African Ranger Award. He also attended last year's award ceremony.

The work of African rangers is very difficult, and every year many rangers like Maria die in the fight against poachers.

According to a 2016 survey report, 82% of rangers faced life-threatening dangers during grassland patrols, and 60% of rangers were directly attacked by poachers. In 2015 alone, at least 107 rangers In the ten years from 2006 to 2016, more than 1,000 rangers died in the cause of protecting wildlife.

When they raise their guns, they are not only protecting the wild animals on the grassland, but also the residents living on the grassland.

Local armed activities in Africa remain rampant.

However, their monthly salary is only a few dozen dollars, and the highest one is no more than two hundred dollars.

Jack Ma called them the heroes of this era at last year's awards ceremony.

In Liu Wei's domestic reports, he saw reporters' exclusive interviews with Jack Ma, and there was one question that remained fresh in Liu Wei's mind.

The reporter asked: "As a Chinese, why do you give awards to Africans?"

Jack Ma’s answer was: “Africa is sick, the earth is sick, and then it’s time for humans to get sick!”

This answer is thought-provoking.

Liu Wei came back to his senses and said to Malia with a smile: "Congratulations on your selection!"

"Thank you!" Maria replied to Liu Wei in not very fluent Chinese.

“Maria, can you show me your checkpoint?”

"OK!"

Malia first took Liu Wei to see their results.

Located on the east side of the checkpoint, there is a shed built simply with wooden frames, surrounded by barbed wire.

Maria opened the barbed wire fence, and the animal traps and other traps piled up inside reached the height of Liu Wei's shoulders.

Maria introduced: "This was only discovered on the grassland this year. In the past seven years, we have discovered more than 50,000 poacher traps, and many of them have been destroyed!"

Liu Wei was mentally prepared, but he was still frightened.

Curious, I asked: "Maria, how long have you been a ranger?"

"Seven years!"

"Why did you choose to pursue this career in the first place?"

When Liu Wei first saw Ma Liya, he was a little surprised. It is rare for women to engage in this career.

Maria looked at Liu Wei's face and smiled. She knew what Liu Wei meant and said: "My father, like many aboriginal residents, relied on hunting animals to make a living when I was a child. I have seen many animals since I was a child. Every time I see the corpse, I seem to hear the call of life.

When I was in college in South Africa, I did a lot of public welfare activities to protect wild animals. After graduation, I took the initiative to apply to join the rangers of the East Sudan prairie. There are more than 500 people like me on this grassland doing the same thing every day. work.

I’m proud of what I’m doing, and the international community needs the power of women! "

After listening to this, Liu Wei was touched. Whether it was Maria's conversation or academic qualifications, she could have chosen a higher-paying and safer job in Africa, but she came to the front line as a patrolman.

As she said, the international community needs the power of women.

This should also be the reason why she was selected for this "African Ranger Award".

Maria looked at Liu Wei's serious expression and smiled, "Let me take you to see our weapons arsenal!"

Liu Wei followed.

The room on the far right of the bungalow is the weapons depot for the checkpoint.

According to Maria, this checkpoint has fifteen rangers responsible for managing the surrounding area of ​​20 square kilometers.

In their arsenal, Liu Wei saw internationally advanced small-caliber rifles, automatic and semi-automatic rifles, and even heavy firepower weapons such as RPGs.

Maria said that some of these weapons were provided by the government, some were snatched from poachers, and some were purchased from local armed forces!

Liu Wei asked: "Have you ever had any fights with poachers or local armed forces during your patrol?"

Maria looked relaxed and nodded as if it were commonplace, "Of course, in the gun battle with poachers last week, I personally killed a poacher.

Liu, my marksmanship is very good, I trained with the Sudanese police force for a year! "

Liu Wei gave a thumbs up and praised: "Awesome!"

Then he applied: "Can I go on patrol with you?"

Malia looked at Liu Wei and hesitated, "You need to ask the team leader about this matter. He is the most experienced patrolman. He has been working as a patrolman on the grassland for ten years. I tell you quietly, before He is also a poacher and his marksmanship is better than mine!”

Liu Wei looked at Malia and smiled, suddenly feeling that this black woman was a little cute.

"Let me ask for you!"

Maria walked to the yard, where the team leader was smoking a cigarette and communicating with Hunter. She walked over and told Liu Wei's application directly.

The team leader looked back at Liu Wei with some suspicion on his face, "This is a very dangerous thing! I can't completely guarantee your safety, Liu, you need to be responsible for your own actions!"