Animal conservationists engage people through advanced technology, Hou Chenchen reports.

One can glide through the Yangtze River alongside finless porpoises, soar thousands of miles with migratory birds, or dash across expansive grasslands with foxes — all with a single bracelet.

This is not a scene from a fairy tale but a reality made possible by advances in animal tracking technology. Through the bracelet of Chinalife, a creative program from the volunteer agency Easin, one can match with a wild animal and track its movements by scanning the QR code on the accompanying card.

In addition to tracking the movements of wild animals, digital adoption programs provide a unique opportunity to form a virtual bond with them. With just a few clicks, one can adopt a wolf, capybara, koala, or red panda, even if he or she is miles away. This is not just about virtual connection; it also offers a chance for virtual "mamas" to see their babies offline.

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Since 2022, the "virtual adoption "program launched by Nanjing Hongshan Forest Zoo, or Hongshan Zoo, in East China's Jiangsu province has allowed individuals, families, and even companies to adopt animals through a mini-program. Participants can interact with their chosen animals, learn about their habits, and support their protection — all from the comfort of their homes.

These innovative digital programs — ranging from tracking the journeys of wildlife to virtual adoption — are bridging the gap between humans and animals. Through these creative initiatives, individuals are not only gaining insights into animal behaviors but are also actively participating in conservation efforts and advancing research in the field.

Tracking wildlife

Meng Chen, a bracelet owner from Beijing, says: "The mini-program provides timely data updates, generally every two to five days. Every time I check it, there's always a delightful surprise."

The animal Meng matched is a finless porpoise named Gulu. The bracelet shows its activities in the Poyang Lake area, such as making new friends or spending time with its family. It also provides information about the surrounding environment and the conservation efforts of protectors.

"These photos and descriptions always make me happy, and I can't help but share them with my friends on social media. Through this bracelet, I can participate in protecting China's endangered animals while establishing a connection with them, which gives me a sense of fulfillment," he says.

Meanwhile, the collected animal tracking data serves as a valuable resource and foundation for numerous scientific research projects. Eris Ling, the planner of the Chinalife series bracelet, explains that all wildlife conservation ultimately comes down to habitat protection.

In this process, animals' data can act as bioindicators, assisting governments and organizations in developing more reasonable environmental protection policies, Ling says.

"For instance, tracking migratory bird data can help monitor climate change and urban pollution along their routes, while also effectively reducing the risk of bird strikes."

Having witnessed countless touching moments in the animal world, Ling became determined to dedicate herself to wildlife conservation.

In 2022, she began exploring virtual adoption programs and designing cultural products related to animals with the help of digital technology. Inspired by the concept of animal protection abroad, Ling integrated China's local wildlife conservation efforts and founded the brand Chinalife.

One-third of the bracelet's gross profit will be donated to charitable organizations or directly allocated to wildlife conservation projects. Ling says: "It's a great way to connect wildlife with the public."

In addition to tracking animals, the bracelet also links to meaningful causes. For instance, the materials for the bracelet are sourced from leftover promotional pamphlets from large events or discarded magazines. Moreover, all the bracelet makers are rural women from Fenghuang county, Central China's Hunan province. This provides more than 70 rural households with a source of income.

"I really like the design of this bracelet, made from beautiful and eco-friendly materials like recycled posters. Additionally, it provides employment opportunities for rural women, and part of the proceeds goes toward wildlife conservation. It's a product that achieves multiple goals at once," says Shen Yinyin, a primary schoolteacher from Jiangsu province.

Digital adoption

The virtual adoption program launched by Hongshan Zoo has garnered widespread attention. Shen Zhijun, the zoo's director, says the program was initiated not only to promote science education but also to enhance interaction, encouraging animal lovers to take part in concrete actions to protect wildlife.

Opening the mini-program of Hongshan Zoo, the animals available to adoption come into view, including wolves, capybaras, koalas, and red pandas. Adopters can register as individuals, families, classes, or companies, while nonlocal visitors can also choose "virtual adoption".

Lu Sijing, who now lives in Vietnam, adopted a capybara named Fubao. She participated in a site event organized for adopters, where she prepared enriched food for the capybara and closely interacted with it.

She believes that the adoption fees help the zoo provide more enrichment, improving the animals' living environment and diet. "I hope my capybara can continue to live a healthy and happy life at the zoo!" Lu says.

In addition to an annual offline event, Hongshan Zoo also updates the animals' lives through photos and livestreams online regularly to maintain the emotional connection between adopters and animals.

Wang Xiaoxu, a lawyer from Northeast China's Liaoning province, adopted a meerkat named Little Prince. She says: "Since I don't live in Nanjing, I'm grateful that the zoo offers regular monthly livestreams, which allow me to stay updated on Little Prince. For those who love animals but aren't based locally, virtual adoption provides a meaningful way for us to stay connected from afar."

Chen Xi is not only a mother of two children but also the "mother "of a Bengal white tiger named Gucaini. She now receives monthly updates on its growth, along with logs recorded by the tiger's caretaker. Additionally, she can interact with her adopted animal through livestreams.

"The monthly online activities allow me to participate in the tiger's growth. Although I've only met it in person once, through photos and livestreams, I feel an increasingly deep emotional bond between us," Chen says.

Wang from Liaoning says the virtual adoption program is a positive attempt to engage more people in wildlife conservation initiatives. It opens the door for animal lovers, enabling them to contribute what they can to protect wildlife.

"The virtual adoption program is highly significant for caring for animals. Even if you can't visit the zoo in person, you can still support the animals financially, which helps cover their feeding, medical care, and improvements to their living environment," Wang says.

Building connections

The adoption program at Hongshan Zoo is essentially a life education initiative.

Shen, the zoo director, says: "We have always regarded adoption as a way to connect the zoo with the public. Through this form of dialogue, we aim to inspire more people to care about wildlife, awakening their empathy and emotional support for animal conservation. It's a journey of mutual dedication and shared growth."

"Seeing more such products and programs emerge in the future is truly inspiring, as we aim to offer the world newer and better choices," Ling says.

Another purpose of the tracking bracelet is to integrate human emotions with animal data, subtly raising public awareness of citizen science in China, she says.

Citizen science is research conducted with participation from the public.

"For projects like species surveys, relying solely on experts is extremely costly," Ling says. "This should be a social responsibility of every citizen. It's as simple as forming the habit of taking photos of common animals like insects or birds in our daily lives." Closely tied to citizen science is the establishment and development of ecological databases. As data gradually accumulates, building a comprehensive species database can better integrate artificial intelligence-assisted technologies into wildlife conservation, fully unlocking AI's potential.

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For instance, Zambia's Kafue National Park, home to more than 6,000 African elephants, previously faced severe poaching issues. The park later implemented a digital protective barrier using thermal imaging and AI recognition technology, combined with large-scale model comparisons, effectively deterring poachers.

Connection is the key word in wildlife conservation and other socially useful activities.

"Charity is something that everyone can contribute to in small ways, ultimately creating a powerful collective force. We need to build new mechanisms to integrate charity into market systems, enabling more parties to play an active role in the process," Ling says.

Whether it is enhancing interactivity through technological means or combining charity with commerce to bring more businesses and products into the realm of public welfare, the essence of the program lies in fostering connections, she says.

"These connections maximize social synergy, promoting harmony between humans and animals, and between humans and nature," she says.

Sang Yihan contributed to this story.

Contact the writer at houchenchen@chinadaily.com.cn