On May 27, a team of experts went on patrol to observe a herd of milu near Dongting Lake.

"It takes time and luck to spot one and figure out the total number, especially when they live in the thick reeds that are 4 to 5 meters tall," said team leader Song Yucheng, who is also deputy chief engineer of the nature reserve and a member of the milu conservation association.

Early in 2009, Song saw a milu for the first time when he was studying for his doctorate in zoology. Since then, he has helped protect and expand the habitats of the species at Dongting Lake.

Whenever a research team member spies a deer through his or her telescope they can barely contain their excitement.

Each member has a specific research role, with some flying drones, some counting the number of milu and some estimating the age of the males based on the shape and size of their antlers.

As the flood season approaches, Song and his colleagues are gearing up for their busiest time of the year.

They will patrol the lake area day and night to search for stranded and injured deer, monitor the flood intensity and supply feed for the animals when needed.

The past several years have witnessed the gradual recovery of the milu population. Once extinct in China, its native land, and with only 18 individuals surviving in the world, the milu deer is now prospering in its home country.

As the environment improves in and around Dongting Lake, China's second-largest freshwater lake, the wetland has become a haven once again for a number of wildlife species, including migratory birds and the Yangtze finless porpoise.

"We will continue to protect these precious animals and their living environment," Song said.

Xinhua