As spring arrives at East Dongting Lake Nature Reserve in Hunan Province on the Chinese mainland, two male milu deer have entered the spotlight in a dramatic breeding contest.
Known as the 'king of the deer,' a six- to seven-year-old stag has fortified its antlers with branches and weeds, creating an imposing crown. But a younger rival, just one to two years its junior, challenged the title in a fierce antler clash, charging head-on and jostling for dominance. Despite serious injuries, the challenger fought bravely, only to yield the crown to the reigning stag.
Researchers are tracking the champion with a satellite collar, part of a BeiDou positioning study that reveals its origins in a captive breeding program. The stag’s victory highlights the success of rewilding efforts, showing that deer raised in captivity can thrive back in the wild.
Milu deer, or Pere David’s deer, once went extinct on the Chinese mainland in the Qing Dynasty due to climate shifts and poaching. Since 1985, reintroduction projects have brought deer from overseas back to nature reserves. Today, over 14,000 milu deer roam 92 habitats across the Chinese mainland, with the Dongting Lake population emerging as the pioneer of rewilding.
This breeding season duel not only thrills wildlife fans but also signals a major conservation win: endangered species can reclaim their place in the wild through careful stewardship and global collaboration.
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Endangered milu deer fight for mating rights in Dongting Lake reserve
cgtn.com
