Tech Desk 
Aug 12, 2025
China has launched a robotic antelope on Tibet’s Hoh Xil plateau that uses a combination of AI and cutting-edge 5G technology to track wildlife. The robot looks astonishingly similar to a Tibetan antelope, down to its big doe-like eyes and plush, thick brown fur, but is equipped with sensors that can scan the vast grasslands.
According to state news agency Xinhua, the robot, which looks very life-like, was developed by Xinhua itself, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and DEEP Robotics of Hangzhou. It will use real-time monitoring to study Tibetan antelopes’ migration, feeding, and mating patterns.
This is part of a wider effort by China to expand its surveillance system while also protecting its endangered species.
The announcement follows a recent increase in the Chinese government’s investments in its robotics industry, which has already received tens of billions of dollars in subsidies. China recently hosted the 2025 World Robot Conference, showcasing innovations from humanoid athletes to AI-driven devices.
In Tibet, 5G services were first rolled out in 2019 and had reached 1 million users by 2022. A base station in Gogmo, completed in late 2023, has brought high-speed coverage to all districts.
Local officials have stated this network has multiple implications, where it will not only enable wildlife monitoring but also other AI use cases like drones, telemedicine, and "smart" yak herding.
These initiatives are part of Beijing’s broader strategy to integrate Tibet into the Belt and Road Initiative, enhance trade links with Central Asia, and expand its digital footprint towards India.
However, the move also raises questions about surveillance. A July report by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies claimed China has used local telecom networks in neighbouring Nepal to monitor dissidents and engage in cyber theft.
