Capped: The elk, which is on the brink of extinction, has returned to China after many years of detours in Europe

Source: Global Times

Canada's "Media News" reported on October 16, the original title: Elk, the endangered animal hidden behind the Chinese sacred deer They have survived floods, smuggling and attacks, are on the verge of extinction, and return to China after many years of detours in Europe, rejoicing in the motherland. On the occasion of China's hosting of the United Nations Biodiversity Conference, the story of the elk surviving highlights the importance of international cooperation in animal protection. Elk, which disappeared in China at the end of the 19th century, was reintroduced a century later, and today the population has grown to 8,000.

In the mid-19th century, the French missionary David first discovered elk in the Qing Dynasty Royal Hunting Park. In 1895, the hunting grounds flooded and the deer herd nearly perished. Five years later, the last elk was shot and eaten by German soldiers who invaded Beijing. Happily, some of the elk were shipped to Europe before their descendants returned to China in 1985. Today, more than 200 elk can be seen in Nanhaizi Park on the outskirts of Beijing enjoying semi-wild environment.

Elk is still classified as endangered by the IUCN. It is far less well-known than the giant panda, which has been removed from the endangered species list. China is proud of its efforts to conserve biodiversity and has designated 18 percent of its land area as nature reserves. But overdeforestation, illegal land mining and tourism have eroded animal habitats. After a period of historical upheaval, some of the elk have been released in nature, and China hopes to rebuild a wild population of elk. Zhou Jinfeng, a member of the China Foundation for Green Development and Biodiversity Conservation, said: "China is their motherland... The food, climate and environment here are good for them. (Translated by Zhao Fengying)