The Dafeng Milu National Nature Reserve in Yancheng City has become a success story in the protection of endangered species through persistent and long-term efforts. 

The nature reserve, located on the coast of the Yellow Sea, covers 78,000 hectares of wetlands. Once a vast deserted area, the site is now home to the world’s largest number of Milu deer, also known as Pere David's deer. Every few hundred meters, it’s easy to see Milu deer in twos or threes, leisurely and relaxed, roaming on the beach. 

The nature reserve was established in 1986 with the introduction of 39 Milu deer from London. Through three steps – captive breeding to expand the population, behavioral reshaping, and final release into the wild - the number of the species has increased rapidly, according to Liu Bin, director of the nature reserve management office. 

As of 2022, the number of Milu deer at the nature reserve has grown to 7,033, accounting for 70% of the total number of the species in the world, including 3,116 deer in the wild. 

"Our reserve is the largest of its kind in the world, with the largest population of wild Milu deer and the largest gene pool of the species,” Liu added. 

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