‘China: Nature’s Ancient Kingdom’ Recap – ‘West: A Fragile Paradise’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the series premiere of ‘China: Nature’s Ancient Kingdom’.
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Mankind and nature find themselves at quite the precarious crossroads these days. For humanity’s beliefs that nature will provide an endless bounty for us and will always maintain homeostasis has proven to be some incorrect lines of thinking for us. Because we are now coming to learn that we simply cannot take and take from nature without causing it some level of harm and true balance, requires us to do our part as well and sadly our actions and ignorance in such matters have indeed put nature in a scary place. The kind where the climate is changing rapidly and where species are starting to struggle to survive due to our need to expand and our desire to use them as a grand resource. 
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But not all hope is lost in this matter, for we are finally beginning to see action on climate change, and we are all beginning to learn that leaving animals to their own devices to thrive and finding a way to peacefully coexist, is the proper course of action to ensure that future generations will be able to partake in the wonder that is the natural world. Which is why we are seeing all kinds of new conservation efforts and protections be afforded to the wildlife that surrounds us and oddly enough, China is a nation that is trying to put together a blueprint for what proper protection and peaceful coexistence might look like. To the point where BBC America has opted to spotlight their efforts by way of a new documentary series entitled China: Nature’s Ancient Kingdom.

Which will take the time to spotlight how China has brought about the creation of multiple national parks to create a safe space for wildlife and how the people within those very parks are ensuring that mankind and the animal kingdom live side by side in harmony and that made ‘West: A Fragile Paradise’, quite the intriguing watch. For there really are some incredible efforts being made to ensure nature’s safety in this part of China. For example, in one particular park where cranes struggle to eat in the middle of winter, there are generations of families that take the time to feed these cranes in an effort to ensure their numbers remain healthy and they’re not the only ones going the extra mile to see to the safety of animals. Since a different park is host to individuals that watch over the migration of antelopes, to the point where they will make adjustments to people’s property if it means the antelopes can reach their winter-feeding grounds with relative ease. 

If anything, it was simply beautiful and heartwarming to see people make the safety and security of the animals that surround them a priority in their day to day lives since it speaks volumes to the fact that a little effort from all of us could make a world of difference and for proof that this really could be a permanent reality… we need look no further than how Tibetan Monks live. For these fine gentlemen, have opened their doors to nature for countless generations. To the point where they even take the time to offer up their leftover food to any animals in need of a meal. Which in this instance, were nearby bears and well, watching the monks go about their day with nature inside their temple, and seeing the joy that they receive for helping the animals around them out with a bite to eat, really was quite the powerful experience for certain.

One that really does help us to realize that learning to peacefully live alongside mother nature, is a simpler process than we give it credit. For all it takes is some genuine effort on our part, and an acknowledgement that we are not the masters of the world, but tenants like everyone else. The kind that has the know-how and the resources to accomplish wonders when they are dedicated to a particular cause and hopefully this blueprint is one that we adopt in the years to come, so that we are secure in the knowledge that we are doing everything within our power to properly care for the planet that has nurtured humanity and allowed for it to thrive. But while we wait for that proud day, we can bask in the wonder of this documentary and every suggestion that is has to offer and it will be quite fascinating to learn about the other harmonious efforts that being in made in China, in the weeks to come. Until next time.

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