Chapter 560 - 254: Natural Miracle, Undercurrents Surging
Chapter 560: Chapter 254: Natural Miracle, Undercurrents Surging
News that a Wild South China Tiger had voluntarily entered Xianlai was reported up the chain, and personnel from the relevant departments rushed to the scene.
The Laishan County Government responded the fastest.
Vice County Magistrate Liu, who oversaw agriculture, forestry, and water conservation, personally led the team. Accompanied by the heads of the County Forestry Bureau, Public Security Bureau, and Emergency Management Bureau, he arrived at Xianlai around nine in the morning.
The moment Vice County Magistrate Liu got out of his car, he headed straight for Tiger Mountain. After listening to the initial reports from Yang Qi, Song Dacheng, and the others, his expression was grave yet held an unconcealable excitement. He immediately ordered the security cordon to be expanded and all non-essential personnel to be evacuated, then submitted another detailed report to the city.
Soon after, the team from Donghua City also arrived.
This group was also personally led by a relevant deputy mayor. It was a massive joint task force composed of the Municipal Forestry Bureau, Public Security Bureau, Wildlife Protection Center, and experts from the city’s Zoo.
With the deputy mayor’s arrival, the importance of the on-site operation was elevated once again.
After observing Lian Po through binoculars and listening to reports from various parties, he commended Xianlai’s emergency response. At the same time, he stressed the gravity and sensitivity of the situation, demanding that safety be the top priority. He instructed them to properly settle and conduct preliminary observations of the tiger while awaiting the final opinion of the provincial expert team.
By the time the provincial motorcade arrived at Xianlai, it was already noon.
Led by Wei Zongting, the deputy director of the Provincial Forestry Bureau, the team included authoritative experts from the Provincial Wildlife Protection Center, the Provincial Forestry Science Institute, and Handong University.
But the most eye-catching figure was undoubtedly Professor Song Chunfang.
This team was, without a doubt, the top lineup in the field of wildlife protection in Handong Province.
Everyone—from county officials to city leaders to the experts and officials from the province—made Tiger Mountain their first stop upon arrival, without exception.
Sprawling over dozens of acres, Tiger Mountain was one of the first enclosures to have its main construction completed at Xianlai. It made full use of an existing small hill and stream, striving for a natural, ecological environment.
The facilities inside were complete, with clearly defined functional zones.
At this moment, for ease of observation, an array of cameras with telephoto lenses and a police cordon had been set up outside the railing gate of Tiger Mountain’s public viewing area.
Inside, all the connecting gates had been opened on Yang Qi’s command, creating a relatively open, large space for the tiger to roam.
When Wei Zongting, Song Chunfang, and their group arrived at the perimeter of Tiger Mountain, they could see from a distance that inside the enclosure, Yang Qi was crouching on the ground. He was only three or four meters away from the South China Tiger, which was lying by a large rock near the stream, basking in the sun.
Although the tiger was lying down, its massive frame, its gaunt yet still powerful lines, the old scars covering its body, and the intense, wild aura that could be felt even from a distance all proclaimed its wild origins. It was completely different from its pampered, glossy-pelted counterparts in a Zoo.
The tiger’s eyes were half-closed, appearing lazy. But when it occasionally glanced at the crowd outside the enclosure, its cold, indifferent gaze—the look of an apex predator—still sent a chill down many people’s spines.
And there was Yang Qi, just a stone’s throw away from this ferocious beast, holding a small notebook and seemingly writing something down while speaking in a low voice.
His voice, barely audible, carried the steady, even tone of a professional zookeeper communicating with an animal. It was interspersed with soothing words and commands, as if he were dealing with a large house cat, not the king of the forest that could attack at any moment.
Outside the railing gate, a dense crowd had gathered.
From provincial officials to city and county leaders, from experts and scholars to security personnel, everyone instinctively held their breath, lightened their steps, and stared wide-eyed, unable to believe the scene before them.
The scene was utterly silent, save for the gurgling of the distant stream and the occasional CLICK of a camera.
"What is he doing?"
An expert from the provincial team couldn’t help but gasp in a low voice, but was immediately silenced by a gesture from the person next to him.
Wei Zongting and Song Chunfang exchanged a look, both seeing shock and a hint of understanding in the other’s eyes.
They knew Yang Qi was capable, but to witness him interacting with a Wild South China Tiger at such close range, and so seemingly peacefully, was still a tremendous shock.
Just then, Yang Qi, inside the enclosure, seemed to finish his notes. He put away his small notebook and then made a move that made everyone’s heart stop.
From the tool bag he carried, he took out a disposable syringe and a blood collection tube.
’What is he doing?’
’Drawing blood?!’
’From this close? While the tiger is awake?’
Someone outside the gate almost cried out in alarm but had their mouth clamped shut.
Yang Qi, holding the blood collection tools, remained calm. He turned slightly, said a few more quiet words to the tiger, and made a small gesture with his hand.
The tiger seemed to flick its tail in irritation and let out a low rumble from its throat. However, it didn’t get up or show any aggression. It merely shifted its position slightly, more naturally exposing the area near its hindquarters to Yang Qi.
Yang Qi seized the opportunity, his movements swift yet steady as a rock.
He bent down and, using a special blood collection needle with an extension rod, precisely inserted it into a relatively safe area on the tiger’s rump—one that was muscular and rich in blood vessels.
The tiger’s body visibly stiffened. Its muscles tensed in an instant, and it let out a suppressed, displeased growl.
Its amber eyes snapped open, glaring sharply at Yang Qi!
The crowd outside the gate flinched in fear. Several of the officials subconsciously took half a step back, and Song Dacheng’s hand once again reached for his lower back.