40 years on, milu deer thrives in China's 'Oriental Kenya'

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the milu deer's return to Yancheng, east China's Jiangsu Province.

In 1986, 39 milu deer, also known as Père David's deer, traveled from the United Kingdom to Dafeng Milu National Nature Reserve in Yancheng, marking the culmination of a nearly century-long journey home. Forty years on, this wetland is now home to more than 8,800 milu deer, accounting for nearly 70 percent of the global total. The area has not only become the world's largest milu deer nature reserve, but also boasts the world's largest wild milu deer population and gene bank for the species.

From 39 to over 8,800 deer, this growth represents not only an achievement in China's ecological conservation efforts, but also a vivid example of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. In Yancheng, 40 years of dedicated protection have allowed the once-endangered milu deer to once again roam freely across their native land.