Before establishment of the Ulaan Taiga Specially Protected Areas Administration, there were 7000 artisanal miners in Ulaan Taiga (Red Taiga). I was a poacher and miner. But I started questioning the importance of life and value of nature. I’ve done so many things in life and realized I have never done anything to protect nature. It was time. I did not want my birthplace to disappear in front of my eyes and I did not want to regret. I needed a change. When the protected areas administration was established, I applied to become a ranger.
Our fellow rangers and I were successful in chasing out all the illegal miners and we are doing our best to stop poaching completely in Taiga. I patrol 124,000 hectares [over 306 thousand acres].