Shanghai releases four once-extinct indigenous milu deer into reintroduction base
Shanghai last released on March 8 four milu deer into a special reintroduction base for this species, as an effort to further consolidate China's achievements in protecting and reproducing the once-extinct indigenous species.
The four released deer, including one male and three females, were brought in from a milu deer conservation area in east China's Jiangsu Province more than a year ago.
The four milu deer were temporarily raised at the Shanghai Zoo before they were released to the new home, a piece of dawn redwood forest covering an area of more than 20 hectares.
According to the reintroduction base, the four deer have already adapted to the new environment after nearly a week since they were released.
"[Their mental state] has recovered, because they enjoyed a lot when we fed them with grass. We have been observing them every day," said Fang Qunan, a volunteer at the Beitan milu deer park in Xincun County, Chongming District.
The base has also set up a scientific museum about milu deer at its entrance, where people can learn more about the species, including its living habits and historical stories, as well as listening to the sound that milu deer makes at different stages of its life and under different conditions.
"After today's visit to this scientific museum, I have a better understanding of the history of milu deer," said a tourist.
The deer also known as elk was first mentioned in Chinese books more than 2,000 years ago. The wetland deer species bears the odd nickname of "sibuxiang," or "like none of the four" for its unique features of a horse's face, a donkey's tail, cow-like hooves and a stag's antlers.
The endemic species died out in China, its homeland, in 1900 due to wars and natural disasters, and was only brought back from Britain in 1985.
According to the latest data released by China's National Forestry and Grassland Administration (NFGA), by the end of 2021, China has established 84 ex situ conservation populations of milu deer, with a total of nearly 10,000 individuals.