Chu Wenwen was born in 1994 in the Altay region of Xinjiang.Her father,a wildlife conservationist,often took her into the wild to observe and document animals.Growing up surrounded by nature,Chu encountered creatures like beavers,eagles,and snow leopards,and watched her father tend to injured wildlife.Over time,she realized that true happiness comes from being in nature.After returning to her hometown with a few classmates,she co-founded the Altay Natural Conservation Association.

In the early days,Chu and her team were still learning the ropes.Once,they rescued a beaver with a deep wound on its foreleg.They diligently treated it daily,watching it slowly recover,only for it to suddenly pass away.With permission from the local forestry bureau,they performed an autopsy.As the scalpel entered the beaver's abdomen,pus erupted like a volcano.

Through a 750-kilometer survey,Chu and her team discovered that the river valleys and forests,the beavers'habitats,were shrinking due to climate change and overgrazing.The shortage of shrub willows,a key food source for beavers,amounted to 410,000 plants.To improve the living conditions of the Mongolian beavers,Chu launched the"Beaver Canteen"project to raise funds for saplings.She also created a WeChat group to keep supporters updated on the beavers'progress,which later evolved into the"Beaver Army,"a community of online followers.

As a wildlife conservationist deeply connected to animals,Chu often feels a sense of sorrow in her work."In our daily rescue efforts,the bond with the animals is one-sided.Saving wildlife means helping them regain their strength to return to nature independently,without relying on humans,"she explains."Even though we love them deeply,we must not let them sense our affection."

At the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity,Chu shared her achievements:"We've accomplished something significant.Over four years,we've increased the number of Mongolian beaver families from 162 to 190,achieving a 20%growth in the population of this first-class protected species."Today,that 20%has grown to 50%,thanks to the unwavering dedication of Chu and her team,as well as the support and concern of millions of people.