A lifelike “robot antelope” is patrolling Tibet’s Hoh Xil plateau as part of China’s expanding high-tech wildlife monitoring system, state media reported.
The 5G- and AI-powered device, designed to mimic the endangered Tibetan antelope with realistic features such as doe-like eyes and thick brown fur, is equipped with sensors to observe migration, feeding, and mating behaviors in real time. The project is a collaboration between Xinhua, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Hangzhou-based DEEP Robotics.
China has invested tens of billions in its robotics industry and recently hosted the 2025 World Robot Conference. Since 2019, 5G services have been available in Tibet, with coverage reaching all districts after a Gogmo base station was completed in late 2023.
While the robot is primarily used for wildlife tracking, the same infrastructure also supports AI-driven applications like drone operations, telemedicine, and “smart” yak herding.
The initiative ties into Beijing’s broader strategy of integrating Tibet into the Belt and Road Initiative, boosting trade with Central Asia, enhancing surveillance, and extending its digital reach towards India.
A July report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies noted instances of China leveraging local telecom networks in Nepal for monitoring dissidents and conducting cyber theft activities.
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