Chinese water deer return to Shanghai
28/7/2008 12:39
Angela Xu/ Shanghai Daily news
The Chinese water deer,
a native species that disappeared from the city in early last century, has
returned, the Shanghai Greenery Administrative Bureau said.
Officials said a
community of 53 adult and young deer has been established in the Outer Ring Road
forest belt.
"In the future, the Chinese water deer will live in the forest
freely and citizens may find the timid animal in suburban woodlands," bureau
officer Gao Xiangwei said.
The Chinese water deer, under state protection as
an endangered animal, is the only deer species on the coastal plain and is
native to Shanghai. It is believed the species lived in the city in the
Neolithic Period about 10,000 years ago. But the animal moved away early last
century.
With development of local forestry and improvement of the natural
environment, officials said it was time to invite the Chinese water deer
back.
The bureau introduced in 21 adult Chinese water deer from Zhejiang
Province last March. The group lived in a 5,400-square-meter woodland with water
and abundant plants in the Huaxia Park that is in the Outer Ring Road forest
belt.
More than 80 percent of the deer survived in the city last year and
there were nine births. The community grew to 53 this year.
Wildlife
protectors have also built homes for badgers, another animal native to Shanghai,
in the Fengxian District Seaside Forest Park.
Badgers from Shandong Province
will settle down in their new home in October.
Officials said only three
badger's caves were found in Shanghai in Zhuanghang area this year.
They
said the animals faced extinction if no protective measures were
adopted.
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