Since 2010, officers from the Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve Administration have been strengthening education and campaigns aimed at raise awareness of wildlife protection among villagers. They have also spread awareness of the law, which prohibits the hunting of wild animals.

"The government's efforts to protect wildlife have become stronger, and the laws have also become more stringent. I realized that it was not right to continue hunting. We should not do anything illegal," Yang said.

So in 2015, Yang became a forest guardian. Every month, he patrols the mountains and if he spots someone peeling the bark off trees or chopping wood, he ask them to stop, and reports the infraction to the local forestry bureau.

He has glued a list of national second class protected species in Yunnan to a wall in his house. Some were his targets back in when he was a hunter.

Yang doesn't begrudge the change. Instead, he said he feels very happy to have been assigned the job.

"Xishuangbanna is a beautiful place and the environment is healthy, which is why so many animals make their homes here. We must protect the animals and their habitats, so tourists can enjoy coming here for visits, and zoologists can also enjoy coming here to study," he said.