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Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
As was recently announced at the opening ceremony of the 2025 Global Coastal Forum in Yancheng, Jiangsu Province, the population of milu (David's deer) in the Dafeng National Nature Reserve in Jiangsu has increased from 39 individuals introduced in 1986 to more than 8,500 individuals.
Today, this reserve has become the world's largest gene pool for milu, with birth rates, survival rates, and annual population growth rates for these deer ranking first in the world.
The IUCN's Species Introductory Guide states: "Milu is one of the 15 most successful reintroduction projects out of 138 such projects worldwide."
Milu, known as "sibuxiang" (unlike anything else), inhabited Chinese soil millions of years ago, are endemic to China, and are essential for maintaining the security of wetland ecosystems and the integrity of trophic functions. Later, due to human hunting and habitat destruction, the Milu population gradually declined. By the end of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the few dozen deer remaining only in the Nanhaizi Imperial Deer Park in Beijing were dispersed abroad due to wars.
In 1986, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) selected 39 milus from British zoos and parks and donated them for protection and breeding in Dafeng, Yancheng.
The first breeding took place in 1987, the population exceeded 100 individuals in 1992, and then exceeded 1000 in 2006… Thanks to the constant efforts and meticulous care of local authorities and the reserve, the milu population in Dafeng is constantly breaking records.
Dafeng, Yancheng, is located in the economically developed Yangtze River Delta region, where preserving the milu's original natural habitat is extremely challenging. As the Chinese government at all levels continues to increase human and material investment in environmental protection, the milu population in Dafeng is accelerating its recovery, and animal protection has become a national consensus.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.