"It's not just Lian Po who wants to retire here. After spending a few days in this place, these old bones of mine have the same idea. I don't want to leave."
In the Xianlai Research Building, inside an office specially assigned to the National Forestry and Grassland Administration's Expert Group for the Protection and Research of the South China Tiger (Lian Po).
The afternoon sun streamed in through massive floor-to-ceiling windows, filling the room with warmth. A faint fragrance of tea and fresh vegetation lingered in the air.
By the window stood Professor Hou Zhengqing, an elderly expert with salt-and-pepper hair and reading glasses. He was a nationally renowned authority on animal ecology and a key member of the expert group.
He was holding a cup of light tea, his gaze distant as he admired the breathtaking scenery of the park outside, and he couldn't help but sigh in admiration.
