Liu Lijun describes himself as an "emergency physician" who is tending to "patients" in need of urgent remedies.

"This white ball python, sent by the local residents, has a spine injury and is undergoing treatment here," says the 38-year-old veterinarian, who works at Beijing Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center, as he injects nutrients and antibiotics into the snake.

"The number of injured and trapped animals has seen a rise every year from hundreds to thousands, and dozens of animals are sent in a single day during the busiest times," Liu says.

The data only takes into account those sent by residents, excluding illegally raised and trafficked animals, which are forfeited and brought to the center by the police.

The surge in the number of rescue instances demonstrates the increasing awareness of wildlife rescue and habitat rehabilitation among Beijing residents, Liu adds.

The theme of this year's Earth Day on Friday was "invest in our planet".This year marks the 53rd anniversary of Earth Day and the initiative calls for forging a partnership toward safeguarding the planet where everyone is accounted for, and everyone is accountable.

"Wildlife protection is my passion and it gives me an extraordinary sense of achievement," says Liu, adding that his routine tasks include conducting a preliminary diagnosis and forming medical treatment plans for the animals.