The first group of 158 Tibetan antelopes started their annual migration on Thursday to calving grounds in the heart of the Hoh Xil region, northwest China's Qinghai Province, marking the start of the 2026 migration season.
Each year from May to July, female Tibetan antelopes from Qinghai, Xizang and Xinjiang travel hundreds of kilometers for delivery around Zhuonai Lake in Hoh Xil. The journey is widely regarded as one of the world's three most spectacular migrations of hoofed mammals.
In recent years, local conservation authorities and public security department have stepped up routine patrols and intensified efforts to combat poaching. Thanks to strengthened protection measures, the Tibetan antelope population in Hoh Xil has rebounded significantly, now exceeding 70,000.
First group of Tibetan antelopes start 2026 migration in Qinghai
Spanish health authorities on Friday identified a second monitored contact linked to the hantavirus outbreak on cruise ship MV Hondius after tracing a woman living in Catalonia who had shared a flight with a Dutch traveler died from the virus.
Spain's Center for Coordination of Health Alerts and Emergencies said the woman is asymptomatic and was initially missed during contact tracing because of a seat change on the aircraft.
According to health authorities, the woman now meets the criteria for monitored contact under a newly approved national surveillance protocol and will remain under medical observation.
This came after the suspected case of hantavirus detected in Alicante. Spanish Secretary of State for Health Javier Padilla said on Friday that the health authorities had taken relevant measures.
In addition, Padilla confirmed that all 14 Spanish passengers aboard the MV Hondius had agreed to undergo voluntary quarantine measures in order to minimize the risk of further transmission.
The Dutch-operated expedition cruise ship, currently heading toward Spain's Canary Islands, has so far been linked to three deaths.
Padilla said a team from the Spanish Health Ministry would travel to Tenerife on Saturday ahead of the ship's expected arrival on Sunday.
Passengers are expected to disembark by small boats before being transferred under strict isolation measures. Spanish citizens aboard the vessel will be transported to Madrid for quarantine observation.
The British Health Security Agency announced Friday that a suspected hantavirus case has been detected on the South Atlantic island of Tristan da Cunha, linked to the ongoing outbreak aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship.
The vessel stopped at Tristan da Cunha between April 13 and 15.
Spain identifies second suspected hantavirus case linked to cruise ship outbreak
