Forest Ranger, starting from Picking Up a Lynx Girl

Chapter 189: Chapter 189: Long Journey North and South, The Choice of Genes

Three hours later, the surgery was over.

Little Song took the little clouded leopard to the ICU ward for observation. Chen Ying and Xia Sen sat down to rest for a while before checking on the other three leopards.

Duanmu stayed in the observation room the entire time, and Old Gao helped patrol the infusion apparatus.

“The conditions of these three are okay; they should be able to return to the wild later. However, this one is a bit older. I personally suggest, if it doesn’t work out, we should send it to a zoo to retire.”

In the wild, clouded leopards have a shorter lifespan compared to those in captivity. This clouded leopard, nearly eight years old, might survive only one or two more years if released back into the wild.

Moreover, after the injury, its physical strength and mobility could likely decline significantly.

Of course, the final decision on how to settle the clouded leopard was not theirs to make.

Seeing Chen Ying come out of the observation room, the leopard by the windowsill approached, looking a bit panicked.

“Don’t worry, the surgery went pretty smoothly. We’ll have to see how it recovers, whether there will be any post-operative infections or the like.”

Little Song had strong capabilities in caring for ill cats. Initially, with Little Jin, many people thought it wouldn’t survive. Little Song provided round-the-clock care and ultimately nurtured Little Jin back to health. Chen Ying believed this clouded leopard would also be rejuvenated under her care.

The next morning at 7:30, the two volunteers came again, bringing breakfast with them.

This time they displayed the professionalism expected of volunteers, not saying or doing anything inappropriate.

After confirming the good condition of several clouded leopards, they took photos of each and shared them in their group.

“Dr. Chen, thank you.”

Dao Meihua extended her hand. Chen Ying hesitated before giving her a light handshake.

“I was rude yesterday; I apologize. I was too anxious then. After going back last night, I reflected on it. Since we brought them here, we should trust the doctor’s judgment. I came here specially today to apologize, I’m sorry.”

She bowed deeply to Chen Ying and Xia Sen, catching Xia Sen off guard.

Chen Ying quickly stepped aside, “Don’t be like that, I know you meant well for them; otherwise, you wouldn’t have personally taken on such high rescue costs.”

Dao Meihua just smiled and didn’t elaborate on that topic. Instead, she asked about the conditions of the clouded leopards.

Receiving the answers, she recorded Chen Ying’s words and shared the audio in the group, making the rescue team happy.

“Speaking of which, there’s something I wanted to ask you,” Chen Ying suddenly turned and looked up the tree.

“That clouded leopard and the one in the ICU ward seem to be related. But their habitats are too far apart, so I found it hard to imagine. That’s why during the surgery yesterday, I collected biological samples from the little female leopard and this leopard to conduct a bloodline genetic test.”

Dao Meihua followed Chen Ying’s gaze, thought for a moment, and then squinted.

“According to our organization’s investigation, the clouded leopard’s main habitats are in dense forest areas.”

“A clouded leopard’s territory is not small, and after leaving their mother, male clouded leopards spread to live farther away, which is in their nature and a characteristic driven by their genetic instincts for species continuation.”

She opened a document on her phone and handed it to Chen Ying.

“This poaching incident was promptly tracked because we injected a locating chip in the female clouded leopard.”

During the routine patrol by conservationists, they noticed this female leopard lost contact. After technological tracking, they discovered its last appearance was in a border conservation area hundreds of kilometers away from its birthplace.

Dao Meihua’s team received the notification from their organization and planned to lead people to locate this clouded leopard when they uncovered this poaching case.

“We read the chip of this clouded leopard and confirmed its identity. As for why it ventured so far from its mother, nobody knows. Maybe it sought a stronger clouded leopard to propagate the species,” Dao Meihua speculated.

Dao Meihua had no other pressing tasks and volunteered to help Chen Ying send the samples to the laboratory for testing and would return once the results were ready.

She took advantage of Chen Ying’s absence to fetch some samples and quickly looked around, developing a great interest in the small emergency station.

“This building is really packed with all essentials despite its small size. What do you think about setting up a few of these small stations like this one in our area?”

The assistant rolled her eyes in exasperation, “You’re the mistress, with deep pockets—you decide.”

In this backwater forest, can you really keep talents here?

Although Dao Meihua was a mistress, she truly could endure hardships. She picked up the sample case and left without allowing the assistant to help, thinking he was too careless and might damage the samples.

After they left, Old Gao nudged Chen Ying’s elbow and wore a teasing smile.

Xia Sen, Duanmu, and Little Song also gathered together, communicating with their eyes.

Chen Ying couldn’t be bothered to look at them and started preparing medications and arranging acupuncture after breakfast.

Taking the matter seriously, they all stopped joking, especially Little Song and Xia Sen, who took their learning very seriously.

Chen Ying was willing to teach them without reservations, which was an enormous opportunity for them.

In the future, they were also to stand on their own two feet. The more skills, the better—one skill in hand, a promising future ahead!

Old Gao and Duanmu made food for the patients outside and saw the teaching inside the observation room, which made Old Gao sigh.

“Old Chen’s skills could make him a good teacher at a school. I don’t understand why he insists on hiding away here in the mountains.”

Duanmu gave him a look and chuckled, “To each their own, you’re no different. With the condition of your home, you could have been a small office leader in the system. Why run to the wilderness every day where it’s dangerous?”

Old Gao gave him a sidelong glance and huffed, turning away to show he was upset.

The center’s leaders arrived in the afternoon.

The group included the leader of the medical team, the senior veterinarian Teacher Yu, and a senior keeper.

Once they arrived, they wasted no time checking on the four Big Cats, and they also copied X-rays and treatment plans.

Teacher Yu also performed the second acupuncture and medication of the day.

“The acupuncture and medicinal smokes done in the morning enhance cellular activity; this evening’s session promotes healing and sleep, mainly to ease their pain, soothe their nerves, and help their bodies heal themselves.”

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“This plan is very good, more comprehensive than what I had considered. Little Chen, when you’re less busy later on, you should still come down and teach the younger ones more, letting us progress together.”

“Teacher Yu, you’re joking now. I would definitely love to come down and listen to Teacher Yu’s guidance, you have to give me that chance.”

Teacher Yu turned to the medical team leader, Brother Wang, and smiled, “Look, now that he’s his own boss, even his gift of the gab has improved. You can’t allow him to relax alone on the mountain in the future, he must be included in the plans.”

Brother Wang immediately took the cue, “After this medical operation concludes, Little Chen should come down and give a lecture to everyone, these four cases alone will keep them learning for a long time.”

Chen Ying helplessly watched the two of them back and forth and quickly clasped his hands in entreaty.

Meanwhile, senior keeper Fourth Sister Li, Sister Li, was earnestly teaching Xia Sen how to care for a sick cat.

She even shared her personal notes with Xia Sen, which absolutely thrilled him.

As they were sending the group down the mountain, Teacher Yu pulled Chen Ying aside and quietly asked his opinion about Dao Meihua.

He dared not answer that.

“Teacher Yu, I’m not considering these things now, I’m still young. Let me focus on mastering my profession first.”

Teacher Yu gave Chen Ying a sideways glance, having no way to deal with him.