In the forests of Hunchun city in Jilin province’s Yanbian Korean autonomous prefecture, Gu Baochen, a 71-year-old resident of Songlin village, has become an unexpected chronicler of the region’s rich wildlife. For more than two decades, Gu has patrolled his contracted forestland each morning, shifting from a protector of his ginseng crops to a dedicated observer of the wildlife thriving within the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park.

Gu initially built a barbed wire fence around his 106.7-hectare plot to keep wild animals, especially deer, from damaging his forest-grown ginseng. Despite raising the fence to two meters, wild animals frequently breached the barrier, prompting Gu to reconsider his approach. Recognizing the forest as a natural habitat for diverse species, Gu began using infrared cameras not just to guard his crops but also to monitor local wildlife. His efforts led to the first captivating images of Siberian tigers captured on his devices, igniting a passion for wildlife photography.

Since 2014, Gu has equipped himself with professional photography gear and routinely documents the animals of the forest. He employs a sickle during his patrols to create noise by striking tree trunks, ensuring that nearby tigers are alerted to his presence and confrontations are avoided. His small wooden home is adorned with photographs of numerous species, including black bears feeding on carcasses, foxes following tiger tracks to scavenge leftovers, and rare moments of tigers and raccoon dogs coexisting peacefully.

One of Gu’s most significant recent achievements was photographing a tigress with five cubs in March, a notable increase from his previous observation of one tigress with four cubs. He interprets this as a positive indicator of the region's ecological health and the availability of prey.

Gu has shared his photographs widely through exhibitions and presentations at local schools and universities, aiming to foster awareness and appreciation of wildlife conservation. He also maintains a WeChat group to distribute his images, which are viewed daily by his granddaughters, spanning primary school to graduate studies.

Wildlife in the area has seen a marked resurgence since the establishment of the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park, which straddles the Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces. Park data reveals populations of 72 Siberian tigers and 115 Amur leopards, an increase from 27 and 42 individuals respectively before the park's creation. These animals now use more than 80% of the park’s territory, with cub survival rates improving from 30% to nearly 50%. Additionally, Chinese merganser numbers have climbed to over 600, nearly doubling since 2018.

Gu reports that sika deer often gather in large groups near his home in the early mornings, reflecting the park’s flourishing biodiversity. He views nature as a shared home and hopes that his photographic work will contribute to ongoing conservation efforts in Hunchun and beyond.