Forest Ranger, starting from Picking Up a Lynx Girl

Its actions successfully saved Aleksey's colleague, but it enraged the brown bear.

Little Altai, during its agile evasions, accidentally fell from the tree and rolled down the cliff.

The brown bear lingered at the cliff's edge for two to three hours before leaving.

After it left, Aleksey and his colleague figured out a way to get down to the base of the cliff, only to discover snow leopard tracks in the vicinity.

Based on their previous survey results, they analyzed that snow leopards rarely venture to such a high altitude. However, there had been infrared cameras capturing snow leopards near a ski resort not far from there before, leading them to deduce that the snow leopard population may have increased, expanding their territory simultaneously.

Additionally, traces of a weasel bear were found at the base of the cliff.

Despite the weasel bear's relatively small size, its nature isn't a gentle variety.

However, it's rare for weasel bears to hunt lynxes; it's more likely that a snow leopard dragged away the injured Little Altai.

But after closely examining the traces, they guessed that Little Altai might have fallen and gotten injured, and to evade other predators, it found a place to hide itself.

So, the two of them searched below the cliff for two to three days without finding even a single lynx hair, but instead nearly collided with a weasel bear carrying its cub during their search.

Aleksey temporarily called in a friend to help search; this friend's ancestors had been hunters, and tracking animals is a skill ingrained in their genes.

This friend, after a day of searching, suggested they seek assistance from the Kazakhstan National Forest Administration Bureau. The Administration Bureau's staff contacted the Chinese side's Forest Park Management Office through their international cooperation system.

Even though it couldn't be confirmed if Little Altai had actually entered Chinese territory, Aleksey didn't want to give up as long as there was even a glimmer of hope.

He had all sorts of photos and videos of Little Altai growing up, which he sent to the relevant Chinese personnel. Upon comparison, they found that a photo captured by an infrared camera near the Kazakh side likely depicted Little Altai.

But to their confusion, Little Altai didn't head towards the farm; instead, it moved south into the Chinese side of the Altai Mountains, showing signs of further moving inland.

Coincidentally, the wetland park here, suspecting someone privately raised a lynx, reported to the Forestry and Grassland Bureau's Wild Protection Department. Before they could start an investigation, the Wild Protection Department received a call from the Altai Mountain Forest Management Office asking if they had rescued an Eurasian lynx.

Both sides provided photos, and upon comparison, how could they not understand?

Once they identified the source, the matter was easy to handle.

Through an intermediary, Aleksey was reassured, requested Chen Ying's email, and immediately sent a thank-you email.

Chen Ying also took photos of Little Altai and sent them back, along with Little Altai's examination report.

Indeed, the little guy was caught by Chen Ying for a check-up.

While petting the cat, Chen Ying noticed that Little Altai's bones seemed problematic. Coupled with the new healing wounds on its fur, worrying it might have internal injuries, Chen Ying quickly contacted the local rescue center and took Little Altai for a detailed full-body check-up overnight.

The results were quite good; the little guy had thick skin and coarse flesh. Apart from a possible fracture in the forelimb from the fall, other injuries were just minor bruises, likely to heal even without treatment.

A fracture didn't require a splint; shaving, applying medicine, and wrapping with a bandage would suffice, with recovery expected in ten days to half a month.

The bigger problem now is how to correct the lynx's endearing personality.

Aleksey also mentioned he tried many ways, even taking Little Altai further away for release, yet it would eventually find its way back to the small farm unless he abandoned it, which was clearly impossible. The small farm wasn't just a farm; it also functioned as an animal protection observation and rescue station.

Originally, Aleksey planned to apply to come to the mainland to retrieve Little Altai, but knowing that Chen Ying and others would be heading to Kazakhstan in a few days, Aleksey decided to wait for them at the border and then invite them to stay at the small farm for a few days.

Chen Ying was quite interested in Aleksey's current research, as both lynxes and snow leopards were animals he adored.

There were four days left until their exit.

Throughout these four days, the small courtyard they stayed in was never short of people.

News of Little Altai's deeds spread by Kelas had everyone wanting to see this small hero who saved the scientific research team from the jaws of the brown bear, even though the hero was a big cat that didn't understand human language.

However, Little Altai didn't feel happy, only irritated by the constant crowd that disturbed its rest for recovery. Didn't they know that good rest and food were crucial for healing? Roar!!

Fortunately, most people knew their limits and only peeked from outside the courtyard without lingering too long; the occasional few who did approach the lynx didn't forget to bring food for it.

By the third day, the number of visitors had dwindled, leaving only a few management staff who brought food thrice a day, while observing the development of Little Altai's condition.

The timid and curious Meidi would sneak closer every time but would dart off in a panic the moment Little Altai opened its eyes.

Over three to four days, Meidi's activity level far surpassed its total from the previous week.

Little Altai was only moderately accepting of the provided food, preferring to find its own meals. Recently, the riverside small creatures were in a bad spot, trembling in fear of being devoured by the predator every day.

Initially, Meidi didn't dare to follow along, but in recent days, it secretly trailed behind, stealthily observing the lynx hunt and even learning quite a bit of skill.

The two big cats' favorite snack was the Mouse Bar, specifically large-tailed ones living in trees.

You could say that the animals here were quite brave. Several of their companions had perished under the lynx's jaws, yet they would still risk it for a bag of nuts. No, not even nuts, a small box of blueberries was enough to lure them down.

(The squirrel family from Kunming Green Lake Park was especially gluttonous, flocking over at fruit feedings.)

Kelas never fed squirrels this way, opting to buy a variety of sweet fruits at his own expense to feed the small animals in the yard every morning and evening.

Besides the squirrels, there were various small birds, chirping as they swooped down for grains and plant seeds.

Every time he would feed the birds and squirrels, the two big predators would be shut inside the house, obediently sitting by the window, drooling over the squirrels and birds.

Meidi was previously not interested in live prey; though a forest cat, it had become a pet cat accustomed to cat food and freeze-dried treats, merely nibbling on mouse meat but abandoning it for the unpleasant texture.

After spending two to three days with Little Altai, be it flying in the sky, swimming in the water, or running on the ground, anything caught could be devoured. This annoyed Kelas to a point where he no longer wanted to cuddle Meidi in bed, afraid of being knocked out by the smell from its mouth.

Five days later, they were notified that all procedures were completed, allowing them cross-border passage at any time.

Due to Little Altai's special status, the Provincial Forestry and Grassland Bureau even conducted a video call, and local departments came to understand the situation, ultimately agreeing for Chen Ying and others to take Little Altai across the border.

Initially, the procedure was complicated since it involved an animal, needing inspection and quarantine for crossing.

But this lynx was of local species from the Altai Mountains, though not from within the country's borders. However, it came on its own, without undergoing the customs process, and this time, it either had to undergo proper border crossing, or be released back to return across the border independently.

Finally, special arrangements were made. This time, staff from the YN City's Forestry and Grassland Bureau accompanied them for border crossing, while staff from the Kazakhstan National Forest Management Bureau coordinated from their end, resolving Little Altai's border-crossing issue.

After crossing the border, when Little Altai saw Aleksey, it pounced right over, crying out mournfully, sounding very aggrieved.

Aleksey's eyes turned red as he hugged Little Altai, repeatedly whispering apologies and asking if it was okay.

Though the person and the animal couldn't understand each other's language, their concern for each other was genuinely unmistakable.