"And you have to struggle with your sore legs all the way because nobody can survive outside. Once you start, you have to stick to it until the end," Liang says, while recording deer hoofprints found on the road.

His data include the animals' number, position, sex and age, as well as their possible whereabouts. It seems they are neighbors of Liang.

"It snowed for three days and animals have to come out for food now. Look at their footprints; they are heading for the cropland at the foot of mountain, where they may find corn and soybeans left by farmers if they are lucky enough."

He's pleased to find the number of animal tracks has increased significantly this year. Logging has been strictly forbidden since last year in the region.

"Wild animals appear rather friendly and safe compared to the weather. Large animals, such as tigers and bears, do not attack human beings - unless they think you pose a threat to their food or young."

After his daily work, Liang usually opens his computer and logs onto his QQ, an instant-message system, to chat with friends from all around the country.

"This is another joy brought by the new job. I like making friends with people of different professions. To talk with them makes me happy," says Liang.

In order to improve communications' speed and quality, Liang even invented a new way of typing. He knows nothing about the 26 letters of the alphabet, and it is too hard for him to remember them. So he glues a corresponding Chinese character next to each of them.

"N" refers to "ni", or you, in English and "p" refers to "po shui" - splashing water in English.

Liang Zhuo, 33, a wildlife protection official from the local forestry bureau, is Liang's nephew and has engaged in the work for almost 12 years.

"He (Liang Feng'en) is an excellent person, who shows outstanding courage and diligence in all of his work. His transition also shows the shift of the nation's focus. Ecology is at the top of the country's agenda," he says.

Liang keeps a package of greeting cards from around the world near his computer.

One of them was posted by Ann Christine from WWF Sweden.

It reads: "Dear ranger, Thank you for your contribution to tiger protection. And we cherish your effort and wish you know we care about what you do."

Contact the writer at [email protected].