Li Li is the founding member of the Black Leopard Wildlife Conservation Station. He started his career in traditional Chinese painting. He grew up in Beijing when parts of the city were still villages. He would capture wild birds to paint in his studio. They would inevitably die and he felt guilty. Touched by the loss of the birds and their habitats, Li decided to protect these birds.

He decided to dedicate his life to protecting them. He now has a group of full time wardens patrolling and protecting the Beijing suburban district of Fangshan, protecting wildlife in particular the endangered Black Stork.