Rare wild animals such as the otter and clouded jackal have returned to the mountains of Ruijin, in east China's Jaingxi Province, where humans have been banned for 20 years.

A general investigation over one year by Ruijin Wildlife Administration has found that 106 more species live in the area than were there two decades ago, when the city decided to plant trees and ban the public.

In spring of 1982, the "Red City," home of the Chinese Communist Party's first national government, was listed as a trial site for planting seedlings.

After 20-years, the city now boasts 160,000 hectares (395,360 acres)of artificial woods and nearly 87 percent forest coverage, which provides shelter for wild animals.

(Xinhua News Agency July 20, 2002)