Eld’s deer census confirms population rise in Hainan
Unfazed by searing heat and onslaught of biting ticks, a 30-strong survey team marched in a line into the thorny undergrowth of eastern Bangxi Provincial Nature Reserve in Hainan, China. From the thick bushes, you can hear the squad communicating on the radio to ensure they stay in formation, and from time to time, someone would report excitedly: “One male, with big antlers!”
Eld’s Deer
Last month, Kadoorie Conservation China and Bangxi Provincial Nature Reserve enlisted the help of wardens from four nature reserves in Hainan (Datian, Yinggeling, Houmiling and Baomeiling) to carry out a two-day population census for Bangxi’s endangered Eld’s Deer.
The dedicated survey team comprises of experts and wardens from different organisations
The survey leader takes down the number of Eld’s Deer each surveyor has counted during the transect
It’s no mean feat.
The wildlife sanctuary is part open grassland, part forest. The squad, armed with machetes and dogged determination, sometimes had to fight their way through dense vegetation. By the time everyone emerged from the end of the transect line, beads of sweat were trickling down their faces, their cheeks flushed and hair damp from the exertion.
The survey team heads toward the head of each transect line
Our team of enthusiastic surveyors
Even Prof. Yuan Xicai, an Eld’s Deer expert in his eighties who dedicated decades in studying and protecting the last of the rare deer, flew to Hainan to provide support and technical advice.
The spirit is high despite the hardship.
That’s because we confirmed the reserve’s population of Eld’s Deer is increasing steadily.
Prof. Yuan Xicai gives the team a pep talk
It’s good news for the Hainan population which has undergone a precipitous decline with less than 50 deer remaining back in 1976. The species occurred across the rolling plains of the island, but habitat loss and hunting became severe with the influx of mainland immigrants.
That said, Eld’s Deer is not yet out of danger.
The species is still illegally hunted for traditional medicines. At the same time, habitat loss and degradation are exposing the deer to greater risks of food scarcity and diseases, in what limited space is left for this deer on an island with ever-increasing urbanization.
Kadoorie Conservation China will continue working tirelessly to ensure the species’ future.
Related articles:
https://www.kfbg.org/eng/Hainan-Eld-s-Deer.aspx
https://www.kfbg.org/eng/news/eld-deer-2018.aspx