China: Rare deer species thrive in south China's Hainan thanks to ex-situ conservation efforts.

Shotlist Dongfang City, Hainan Province, south China - Recent (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland) 1. Aerial shot of mountains, river, grassland 2. Various of Hainan Eld's deers running, resting on grassland Storyline Rare Eld's deers are thriving in a conservation area in south China's tropical island province of Hainan, where a provincial ex-situ conservation program has boosted its population growth from 30 to more than 50 individuals in three years. At the Nanyao and Fengling conservation area in Hainan's Dongfang City, a herd of Hainan Eld's deers were caught on camera resting and running across the flat terrain along the shores of a reservoir, occasionally stopping to look around alertly. The sighting came three years after local authorities relocated 30 of the rare animals to the area as part of the provincial ex-situ conservation program launched in 2023. As of June 2026, the size of the relocated population has grown to over 50 individuals. The Hainan Eld's deer is a national first-class protected animal in China and is native to Hainan, and has become a symbol of ecological conservation. It plays an indispensable role in sustaining the ecological integrity and stability of Hainan's tropical ecosystems.