Central China's Hubei Province is winning big in conservation 🌱, with milu deer and Yangtze finless porpoise populations hitting record highs! Both species – considered ecological superstars – are now thriving after decades of protection efforts.
From Near-Extinction to Comeback Kids
The milu deer, once wiped out in China due to 20th-century conflicts and disasters, has roared back from 64 individuals in the 1990s to over 3,800 today 🎉. Thanks to a British-assisted reintroduction program in 1985, these 'four不像' creatures (literally 'four unlikes' for their unique features) now gallop freely in Shishou City's Tian'ezhou wetlands.
River Guardians & Documentary Drama
Filmmaker Zhang Rong and his team have spent seven years capturing stunning footage of these species for an upcoming doc. \"Seeing baby porpoises breach the water never gets old – it’s like nature’s own Marvel movie,\" Zhang told us.
The Yangtze’s 'aquatic pandas' have multiplied from just 5 to 101 since conservation began. \"They’re the river’s health check,\" Zhang explains. \"More porpoises = more fish = cleaner water for everyone.\"
Eco-Upgrade: How Hubei Did It
🚫 10-year fishing bans in Yangtze waters
🌳 5-layer protection system for rivers/forests
📸 AI-powered wildlife monitoring
As Hubei preps to host COP16 biodiversity talks in 2024, its success story offers hope for endangered species worldwide 🌍. Who’s ready for a milu deer emoji?
