In the East Dongting Lake Nature Reserve in central China’s Hunan Province, the endangered milu deer have entered their breeding season, leading to intense battles for mating rights. Two male stags recently engaged in a dramatic duel to determine the dominant “king of the deer.”
The reigning stag, identified by its impressive antlers adorned with branches and weeds, is six or seven years old. This natural decoration makes him appear even more formidable. Challenged by a younger stag, the two locked antlers in a fierce confrontation, each trying to overpower the other. Despite a valiant effort, the younger challenger suffered severe injuries, and the reigning stag retained his title.
Notably, the victorious stag wears a collar containing a BeiDou Satellite positioning device, allowing researchers to monitor his movements. Experts indicate that this stag was introduced from a captive breeding population. His success in the wild demonstrates the effectiveness of rewilding efforts for milu deer previously held in captivity.
Milu deer, also known as Pere David’s deer, are under first-class state protection in China. Once extinct in the Chinese mainland during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) due to climate changes and poaching, they were reintroduced from overseas in 1985. Conservation projects have since promoted the rewilding of captive populations in nature reserves across the country.
By the end of 2022, the milu deer population in China reached over 14,000 individuals in 92 habitats nationwide. The Dongting Lake population is among the most successful, with hundreds of deer now thriving in the area.
