The Tibetan antelope, a mascot of 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, stands out for its tenacity, indomitable spirit, robust physique, endurance and stamina. It's Cega, director of the Hoh Xil Nature Reserve Administration, who proposed the majestic animal be the mascot of the Beijing Olympics in 2005 and succeeded.

However, Cega and many of his peers have risked their lives for years to protect the Tibetan antelope. It's due to their hard work that the number of antelopes has increased to 60,000. Less than 10 years ago, antelopes were greatly endangered with only 20,000 of them remaining. Zhe Tai - a thin, tall Tibetan with dark skin ¨C was one of the first people who fended off poachers in Hoh Xil [Click for Hoh Xil pictures] , the world's largest natural reserve without any human settlements. Let's have a listen to his amazing story.

Middle-aged Zhe Tai gives people a mild impression at first. He doesn't talk much unless you begin to ask about Hoh Xil and the Tibetan antelope. Up until then, you wouldn't realize how passionate he is about his career. He has been working in Hoh Xil for 10 years. Back in 1998, he was working in imports and exports.

Photo of  Zhe Tai, the picture was taken in Hol Xil in Qinghai province on June, 2008. [ Photo: CRIENGLISH.COM]

"I loved animals since my childhood. When the Hoh Xil Nature Reserve Administration was set up in 1997, I submitted an application to work there. At the time, the working conditions here were very tough. We slept on the ground every day."

Zhe Tai was the group leader of the patrol team. He led his teams as they combed the area for suspected poachers. His love for animals was matched only by his hatred for poachers.

"I was there to catch poachers. I caught many of them. I hate them. When I see them, I just can't stop myself from beating them."

Rampant poaching around 1998 was a sad time for Zhe Tai.

"Hundreds and hundreds of Tibetan antelopes were being killed. I was raged each time I saw the bloody carcasses they left behind."

This inspired Zhe Tai to devote his life to combating the poachers.

"At that time, there were many poachers. We were so busy that we even didn't have weekends to ourselves. The cars we used were very small, which didn't allow us to take too much luggage along on our trails. So we wore as many clothes as we could, since it was common for us to spend 15 days at a stretch in the car. Once, I even suffered lumbar disc herniation."

Zhe Tai's eyesight has become very sharp over the years. He can spot antelopes from a far distance ... and poachers too.

"There are two ways to track poachers. The first is to look out for old trails left by a car. The second is to spot fresh trails which indicate that poachers are probably still lurking in the area. All I do is follow their trails."

During his many years combating poachers, Zhe Tai has had close encounters. But he always managed to overcome all difficulties.

In Qinghai's Yushu county back in 2000, Zhe Tai and his colleagues got wind of a group of criminals selling wild animal-based products. They went undercover by posing as businessmen to investigate the issue. After winning their trust, Zhe Tai was taken to their operation headquarters.

"There, I saw 10 bloody Tibetan antelope heads. We paid them 3,000 yuan, loaded them into the car, and left."

Zhe Tai then reported this case to his superiors. To ensure they busted the racket and rounded up all the gang members, they devised a plan in which they asked the same seller for more products such as Tibetan antelope skin. But there was no news for a month. This plunged Zhe Tai into worry.

"I wondered whether our cover was blown since there was no reply. But on day 40, we got a reply. Some 60 pieces of skin were ready, and we were asked to collect them."

The Hoh Xil Nature Reserve Administration came up with 30,000 yuan for the transaction.

"We drove there with 10 policemen. We noticed that the poachers also had 20 antelope heads, three bear paws when we came to make our deal."

Two of Zhe Tai's colleagues went inside the poacher's house, while the rest besieged the house. Not long after, all the poachers were arrested and sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Though Zhe Tai worries about revenge attacks once the poachers are released from prison, he carries on with his work. Ever since he and his team clamped down on the poachers, the situation has gotten better and he isn't as busy as he was 10 years ago.

"Since 2005, my job has been much easier. Actually, it got a lot better since 2004 itself."

Asked if he loves his job, Zhe Tai answers without hesitation: yes, he sure does!