Not only has the continued drought in southwestern China caused shortages in drinking water for humans and animals alike, but it has also severely affected the survival and reproduction of wild animals and plants.
Statistics show that around 5,000 square kilometers of natural preservation area has suffered from the drought, including about 67 square kilometers that was heavily affected. Certain natural preservation areas that are characterized by a small area and ecological fragility are facing the exhaustion of water resources and the contraction of wetland areas. Wild animals and plants there lack water resources and food.
According to monitoring by the Forestry Department of Yunnan Province, massive numbers of cycas panzhihuaensis trees and around 20 percent of young pinus parviflora trees in the Yaoshan National Nature Reserve, Qiaojia County, Zhaotong, have died. Furthermore, 156 cycas panzhihuaensis trees in Nanhua County, Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture have also died from the drought.
More than 100 burretiodendron hsienmu trees, which are under second-class state protection, in Daweishan National Nature Reserve, Hekou Yao Autonomous County, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture are also close to death after their leaves dried up and fell. Some of the 237 taxus chinensis trees and around 3,000 davidia trees, which are under first-class state protection, in Baima Snow Mountain National Nature Reserve are also dead.
The Asian elephant lives in the surrounding areas of Mengkuang Village, Nuozhadu Town, Lancang Lahu Autonomous County of Pu'er. It now refuses to return to the forest after traveling to areas near the Lancang River to find water. The elephants have been staying in the nearby village and farmland, threatening the lives and property of the local villagers. The black-necked crane lives on the reserve in Huize County of Qujing and usually does not leave until the end of March or early April. This year however, they left one month in advance.
According to Yang Xiaojun, the dried out wetlands directly led to the death of animals. The wild animals in parts of the arid regions also have decreased. Fish and amphibians are the most affected and birds are close behind. Specifically, the water shortages led to a large number of species gathering in water resource areas at the same time, increasing the risk of death.
Because of the drought, some animals that are currently in breeding season, especially fishes and frogs, cannot breed normally. The drought and high temperatures may also cause animals to migrate northwards disturbing the natural habitat of native animals, and giving the non-native species from other places an opportunity to mix with local species.