Every year around September and October, millions of migratory birds fly to the island, the home of the Laotieshan Nature Reserve with about 18,000 Pallas pit vipers, from the north and take a one-month rest and then go further south.

Experts say there are 280 kinds of birds that come to the island each year, including the red-crown crane and swan that are under first- and second-level state protection.

To guarantee that the birds and snakes are free of poachers' disturbances, the local government, the reserve authorities, border police and local people all work together, according to Zhang Jiucheng, a reserve official.

The police and other government law enforcement agencies patrol the reserve day and night, recently arresting 30 illegal visitors and locals hunting and seizing 40 tools used for trapping birds, Zhang said.

To prolong the stay of birds and hence give more chance for snakes to hunt, the reserve built some water pools on the island.

Illegal activities hurting birds and snakes this year are less than in previous years. Cases of poaching declined and bird trade markets in the surrounding areas closed, according local border police.

(People’s Daily 10/13/2000)