China’s iconic Milu deer – once teetering on extinction – just scored a major cultural win! The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has officially adopted the name "Milu" worldwide, replacing "Pere David's Deer" in a move celebrating both conservation success and linguistic heritage. 🌏✨
The shift comes as Shishou Milu National Nature Reserve in Hubei Province marks 40 years since the species' reintroduction to China. Known as "sibuxiang" (四不像) for their unique mix of horse, cow, donkey, and deer features, Milu have roamed Chinese texts since the Book of Rites and even appear in 3,000-year-old oracle bone scripts. 🏮📜
"This isn’t just about a name – it’s reclaiming our ecological narrative," said researcher Meng Qinghui, highlighting how the character "Mi" (麋) predates Western classification by millennia. With over 8,000 Milu now thriving globally, their story blends ancient wisdom with modern conservation goals. 🌱💪
