In the peaceful wetlands of the Dafeng Milu National Nature Reserve in Jiangsu, devoted caretakers protect the milu deer, or Pere David’s deer. They monitor the animals’ health, migration and habitat, ensuring the species’ survival.
Once extinct in its native land in China by the late 19th century, the species survived with only 18 individuals in Europe. Through global conservation efforts, the milu deer were reintroduced to China in 1986, marking a historic turning point. Today, the reserve is home to around 8,200 milu deer, with some 3,500 freely roaming in the wild, according to a report from Xinhua News Agency.