On June 12, Tianjin's Ninghe district presented a preserved specimen of Milu deer to Tianjin Normal University (TNU).
Milu deer in Qilihai Wetlands, Ninghe district
Milu deer, also known as Pere David's deer, are native to China, where they bear the nickname sibuxiang, or "like none of the four" due to their unique features - a horse's face, a donkey's tail, cowlike hooves and a stag's antlers.
Wild Milu deer were once extinct in China. The species is now under the first-class state protection in the country.
Qilihai Wetlands in Tianjin's Ninghe district
In recent years, with the continuous deepening of the protection and restoration work in the Qilihai Wetlands of Ninghe district, its ecosystem has been increasingly improving. At present, more than 30 Milu deer, 258 bird species, 162 wild plant species and various types of marine life coexist in the Qilihai Wetlands. In 2023, two rare white-colored Milu deer were spotted in the area, coming as a surprise.
The Milu deer specimen presented by Ninghe district to TNU also comes from the Qilihai Wetlands.
The reproduction of Milu deer in Ninghe bears witness to the increasingly better ecological environment in the region. In 2023, Ninghe was recognized as a "national ecological civilization construction demonstration zone," and the Milu deer serves as a symbol of Ninghe's outstanding ecological environment. Through the donation of the specimen to TNU, Ninghe district will deepen its cooperation with the university and jointly explore the path of high-quality development led by ecological civilization construction.