世界最大麋鹿野生种群繁衍兴旺
World's Largest Wild Population of Milu Deer Thrives
楚天都市报极目新闻记者 陈希
通讯员 赵辉 易红新
翻译：李佳盈 李诗洁 周琼 （湖北大学）
Jimu News Reporter: Chen Xi
Correspondents: Zhao Hui, Yi Hongxin
Translators: Li Jiaying, Li Shijie, Zhou Qiong (Hubei University)
它是传说中吉祥神兽“麒麟”的原型，也是传说中姜子牙的坐骑；它外形独特又称“四不像”；它活跃在《孟子》等史料中——“孟子见梁惠王。王立于沼上，顾鸿雁麋鹿，曰：‘贤者亦乐此乎？’”
It's the prototype of the legendary auspicious beast “Qilin” and the mount of Jiang Ziya in ancient legends; it's also known as “Si Bu Xiang” (meaning literally “none of four”) because of its resemblance in appearance to the four animals horse, donkey, cow and deer; it frequently appears in the Mencius and other historical sources - “Mencius went to see King Hui of Liang, who stood by a pond, and, looking about at his swans and deer, said, ‘Do virtuous men also enjoy these things?’”
它是麋鹿，我国特有珍稀濒危鹿科动物。
It is the Milu deer, also known as Père David's Deer, a rare endangered deer family native to China.
从“荆有云梦，犀兕麋鹿满之”，到1900年前后因战乱和猎杀在原生地中国灭绝，1985年22头麋鹿从英国乌邦寺重归北京南海子，1993年至1994年64头麋鹿来到长江石首天鹅洲繁衍生息，目前约有2500头，成世界最大麋鹿野生种群。
Earlier, things had changed from a time when “Milu deer and rhinoceros are everywhere in ancient kingdom of Chu” to a time when it became extinct in China around 1900 due to war and hunting. Later in 1985, 22 Milu deer were returned to Nanhaizi Park in Beijing from the Woburn Abbey in England and 64 were brought to the Tian'ezhou Milu Deer National Nature Reserve in Shishou city along the Yangtze River from 1993 to 1994. At the moment, there are currently 2500 Milu deer in China, the largest wild population of the Milu deer in the world.
6月至8月，时值麋鹿繁殖期，极目新闻记者来到石首麋鹿国家级自然保护区，数百上千年前麋鹿自然原始、野性豪放的生活画面正在这里“昨日重现”。
From June to August, during the breeding season of the deer, the reporter of Jimu News visited the Shishou Milu Deer National Nature Reserve, where the natural primitive and wild life of the deer from hundreds of thousands of years ago has been replicated.
鹿王争霸张扬自然野性
The Alpha Male Deer's Wild Fight for Dominance
在地图上搜索“石首麋鹿国家级自然保护区”，它就在长江与长江故道形成的夹角之间，占地2.3万亩。
As one searches on the map for Shishou Milu Deer National Nature Reserve, you will find it's located between the angle of Yangtze River and the old Yangtze River Road, covering a land area of 23,000 mu.
“保护区选址于此，偶然中的必然。”保护区管理处主任温华军介绍，麋鹿原产于中国长江中下游沼泽地带，当年科学家到石首为白鳍豚保护区选址时，又代为麋鹿选址，发现此处芦苇丛生的沼泽湿地，很适合它，便于1991年11月新建保护区。
“The location of the reserve was chosen by chance but now it is clear it was meant to be here.” Wen Huajun, director of the reserve's management office, said that Milu deer is native to the swampy areas in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. When scientists came to Shishou to choose a site for the albino dolphin reserve that year, they also chose a site for the deer and found that the reedy swampy wetlands here were very suitable. Therefore the new reserve was built in November 1991.
麋鹿或在水中泡澡，或在草地上觅食Milu Deer Bathing in the Streams or Foraging on the Grass
近日落日沉醉时，极目新闻记者随工作人员一起，深入保护区，苔草丰茂，原野辽阔，只见一群群麋鹿或在水塘中泡澡解暑，或在草地上行走，基本上每个群中有一个雄性“首领”，这首领头上挂着藤蔓植物，自我打扮，煞是可爱。
Recently, when the sun was setting, a reporter from Jimu News, along with the staff, went deep into the reserve, where the moss and grass were growing with lush and the field was vast. There, herds of Milu deer can either take a dip in a pool to cool off or walk on the grass, usually with an alpha male “leader” in each herd who can be easily identified from the vines of plants dangling on its head as a ‘fashion accessory’.
“这就是繁殖群，鹿王头顶的藤蔓植物就是角饰，以吸引雌鹿。”工程师张玉铭介绍，一只成年雄性麋鹿会招引一群雌性麋鹿作为自己的配偶，因此雄性麋鹿之间斗争非常激烈，胜者为王，成为繁殖群的群主、鹿王。
“This is the breeding herd, and the vines on top of the alpha male's antlers are ornaments to attract the females.” Engineer Zhang Yuming introduced that an adult male deer will attract a group of female deer as its mates, so the fight between the males is very fierce and the winner is crowned alpha male, becoming the leader of the breeding herd.
繁殖群不是始终如一，鹿王一点也不轻松自在。记者看见，当一个繁殖群从池塘移步草坪时，看似一片和谐，而另一头雄性麋鹿已准备趁机凑过来搞“分裂”，两雄性麋鹿吼一嗓子、鹿角猛烈顶撞，一阵战乱，部分雌鹿被分走。
The breeding herd does not always stay the same, hence why the alpha male deer can never be relaxed and carefree. The reporter noticed that as one breeding herd moved from the pond to the grass, another male deer was ready and waiting to chance upon the seemingly harmonious group. The two males roared slamming their antlers against each other, a war ensued between the two which in the end resulted in some of the females being captured by the opponent.
“当鹿王很威风，也很辛苦，它们要不吃不喝地照顾好自己的群，所以你会发现有些鹿王比较瘦。”张玉铭解释。
“It's formidable yet tiring being the alpha male deer. They have to take care of their herd sometimes at the expense of their nourishment, so you'll find that some of the alphas are quite thin.” Zhang Yuming explained.
盛暑中，保护区内4个泥泞水塘里，麋鹿在此泡澡、裹泥。“它们喜欢玩泥巴、泡澡，就为它们将四片意杨林改成4片泥水塘。”管护科研科副科长杨涛说。
In midsummer, four muddy ponds in the reserve are where the deer soak and roll themselves. “They like playing in the mud and bathing, so we removed 4 poplar forests and built 4 muddy ponds for them.” said Yang Tao, deputy director of the conservation and scientific research section.
麋鹿与人保持安全距离。恰好一只麋鹿近距离从旁跑过，张玉铭细说“四不像”所深藏的适者生存自然法则：“你看它的蹄似牛，宽大，受力面积大，助力划水，适合在沼泽湿地生存，而梅花鹿在此就生存不了；其角似鹿，但分叉是朝后的，这是为了它们在芦苇、草丛中穿行时，不被植物所阻，且它的角能在一个平面稳稳立起；夏至三候，一候鹿角解，与其他鹿不同的是，麋鹿是冬至解角；其尾似驴，在鹿科动物里尾巴最长，一则奔跑平衡，二来鞭打驱赶蝇虫；面似马，长脸，吃沉水植物时，一头扎下去，眼睛能露出来。”
Milu deer keep a safe distance from people. Just then a deer ran by at close range, Zhang Yuming took that opportunity to elaborate to the reporter how their unique appearance that incorporates the features of four animals, hence known by the other name “none of four”, is based on the law of survival of the fittest: “Its hooves look like that of cattle, wide with a large force area,which helps with paddling in water and is suitable for survival in swampy wetlands in which if sika deer were placed would not survive in. Its horns resemble that of deer, but the forks are backwards, so that they are not hindered by plants when they pass through the reeds and grass , and also their horns stand firm on a flat surface; unlike other deers, Milu deer sheds its horns by the winter solstice. Its tail resembles that of a donkey, making it the longest tail among other types of deer.They use these tails to keep balance as they run and also to whip away flies. Lastly, their face is as long as a horse which ensures that as they eat plants submerged in water, their eyes can be seen above water.”said Zhang.
麋鹿们漫步时，你会发现有几只牛背鹭默契伴飞，当它们停驻时，牛背鹭轻盈立在麋鹿头顶或背上，“爱玩泥巴，牛背鹭相随，麋鹿生活习性与牛有几分相似。”张玉铭笑说道。
When Milu deer take a walk, several cow-backed herons fly with them; and when they stop, the herons stand lightly on the head or back of the deer. “They like to soak and roll themselves in the mud and always have cow-backed herons around them. Their living habits are somewhat similar to those of cows.” Zhang Yuming said with a smile.
麋鹿总量年均递增15%
The Number of Deer Increase by a Yearly Average of 15%
一片泥水塘里，一群麋鹿正匆匆上岸，一只棕色皮肤上密缀白点的矮小麋鹿分外醒目，“嘿，快看，那是刚出生不久的麋鹿宝儿。”张玉铭介绍，花斑约在出生6-8周消失。
In a muddy pond, a group of Milu deer hurried ashore, a short deer with dense white spots on its brown skin was particularly eye-catching, “Hey, look, that's a newly born Milu deer fawn.” Zhang Yuming introduced that the spots disappear about 6-8 weeks after birth.
麋鹿有4个胃室、20米肠道，消化吸收好，生长速度快，“第二年它就和成年麋鹿体型差不多了。”张玉铭说。
The Milu deer has 4 stomach chambers and a 20-meter long intestine, so they digest and absorb food well, and hence grow fast, “By next year that fawn will be about the same size as an adult deer.” said Zhang Yuming.
麋鹿身强力壮，短跑健将，时速可达80公里。母鹿2岁性成熟，公鹿3-4岁性成熟，每年生产高峰一般在3-5月，有少数在7月份，麋鹿妈妈只身前往旱柳林或其他隐秘树林中产宝儿。张玉铭指着长江故道边的一大片旱柳林说：“这就是1998年洪水后，冒出几棵柳树，世易时移，成大片茂林，正好作它们的‘产房’。”
Mulu deer are strong sprinters. They can reach speeds of up to 80 km/h when running. The female is sexually mature at the age of 2, the male is sexually mature at the age of 3-4, and the peak of reproduction is generally in March to May, and a few in July. The mother deer goes alone to the dry willow forest or other hidden woods to give birth to the fawn. By pointing to a large area of dry willow forest on the side of the Yangtze River old road, Zhang Yuming said, “These are the willow trees that emerged after the flood of 1998, it has now become a large forest, that now serves as their 'delivery room'.”
杨涛补充道，目前一鹿一胎一产，没有发现双胞胎。
Yang Tao added that at present, one deer gives birth to only one fawn, and no twins have been found yet.
巡护，是保护区工作人员每日必做的功课，每年提交年度监测报告。“观察它们精神状态如何，有无人为干扰等等。”张玉铭说，尤其是在解角、长茸、繁殖、生产和换毛期（春换轻薄夏毛，秋换厚实冬毛），都是关键时段；以前巡护靠双腿，现在有摩托车，还有视角更广阔的无人机助力。
Patrolling is a daily routine for the staff , and an annual monitoring report is submitted every year. “We observe their mental status, checking whether there is any human interference, and so on.” Zhang Yuming said patrolling is especially important during key periods such as antler shedding, antler growth, breeding, production and molting (in spring for thin summer hair and in autumn for thick winter hair). In the past, patrols were carried out on foot but now there are motorcycles and drones that offer a wider perspective.
细心守护生命，近三年保护区鹿丁兴旺：2020年180多头，2021年200多头，今年307头，“出生率20%，死亡率5%，每年增长率在15%吧。”杨涛估算道。
Carefully guarded, the Milu deer in the reserve have flourished in the past three years: more than 180 in 2020, more than 200 in 2021, and 307 this year, “the birth rate is 20%, the mortality rate is 5%, bringing the annual growth rate to 15%.” Yang Tao estimated.
统计数据显示，从1993年至1994年分两批运来64头麋鹿，到今年已发展到约2500头，形成保护区核心区、江南三合垸、小河杨波坦（与监利接壤）及湖南洞庭湖四个亚种群，是目前世界最大的麋鹿野生种群。
Statistics show that from 1993 to 1994, 64 Milu deer were transported back here in two batches, and this year it has grown to about 2,500. It forms four sub-populations in the core area of the reserve: Jiangnan Sanhe embankment, Xiaohe Yangbotan (bordering Jianli) and Dongting Lake in Hunan, which is currently the world's largest population of wild Milu deer.
近30年的发展实属不易
The 30 year Difficult Journey to a Well-Developed Reserve
近30年踏平风浪，发展壮大，实属不易。
It has not been an easy task for the reserve that has gone through countless difficulties in 30 years to develop to where it is now.
王建福1992年在保护区建院墙时就来此，麋鹿初来乍到时，他每天都要砍2车草喂食麋鹿，“上午下午各一车，每车1000斤，风雨雪无阻。”
Wang Jianfu came here in 1992 when the reserve walls were being built. When the Mulu deer first arrived, he cut two carts of grass to feed them every day. “Rain or shine, I brought a cart of grass every morning and afternoon, weighing 1000 jin (500 kilograms or 1100 pounds).”
1994年放归野外时，它们会跑偏，王建福就和同事们在保护区范围内骑着马一头头往回赶。
In 1994, when releasing the Milu deer back into the wild they would run astray and so Wang and his colleagues would lead them back on horses in the reserve.
起初，保护区内还有农田，麋鹿破坏农田，保护区还得给农户做工作。目前，保护区2.3万亩土地权属已落实，人与鹿争地矛盾解除。
At first, there was still farmland in the reserve. They had to compensate for the damage caused to the farmland by the deer. Now, the consensus on the ownership of 23,000 mu (1,533 hectares) land within the area has been reached, thus resolving the conflict over land between the local residents and deer.
“1998年洪水，没有一人离开。”温华军清晰地记得，当时大家把麋鹿赶到大堤上，洪水将大堤围成一座孤岛，大家挤在残堤上的一间房里，夜里不敢睡，黑暗中聊天，互相打气，有蛇在身上爬过，屏气凝神一动不动，最终在子弟兵帮助下渡过难关。
“During the floods in 1998, none of us left.” Wen Junhua remembered quite clearly that they drove the deer to the dike. The dike became an isolated island as it was surrounded by floodwater. They huddled together in a room on the remnants of the dike, daring not to sleep. They chatted with each other in the darkness and encouraged each other. When snakes crawled over their bodies, they held their breath and remained still. Finally, they survived this challenging ordeal with the help of soldiers.
巡护，是强化疫源疫病防控的前哨。温华军回忆道，2021年春节前夕，巡护人员发现一只麋鹿非正常死亡，遂赶紧联系华农专家解剖样本，找出病因后果断应对，整个春节假期专家驻守指导，保护区方得以风平浪静。
Patrolling is the best way to strengthen the prevention and control of wildlife epidemic diseases. Wen recalled that on the eve of the Chinese New Year 2021, the rangers found a deer that had an unusual death and soon contacted experts from Huazhong Agricultural University to dissect the sample and find the cause of death so as to respond decisively. As a result, the reserve area stayed safe and sound thanks to the experts who spent their whole Spring festival there guarding and offering needed guidance.
精心打造中国麋鹿基因库
Carefully Creating a Gene Pool for Chinese Deer
去年发布的《中国的生物多样性保护》白皮书指出：曾经野外消失的麋鹿在北京南海子、江苏大丰、湖北石首分别建立了三大保护种群，总数已突破8000只。
The official document Biodiversity Conservation in China released last year noted that Milu deer, once became extinct in the wild, have grown to 8,000 in number thanks to the three conservation bases in Nanhaizi of Beijing, Dafeng of Jiangsu, and Shishou of Hubei.
石首麋鹿国家级自然保护区是全国仅有的两个国家级麋鹿自然保护区之一。
Shishou Milu Deer National Nature Reserve is one of the only two Milu Deer National Nature Reserves nationwide.
保护区内生物多样性保护良好，现有高等植物321种、脊椎动物320种，其中鸟类就有220种。别看夏天鸟不多，冬天又是一番景致，张玉铭描述这样一幅画面：东方白鹳、黑鹳和小天鹅等珍稀冬候鸟飞越千山万水，精挑细选，着陆天鹅洲，与麋鹿大家族温暖相伴，一起过冬、欢度新年。
The biodiversity in the reserve is well preserved. Currently, there are 321 species of higher plants, 320 species of vertebrates, including 220 species of birds. Though there are not many birds in summer, it is a completely different scene in winter. Zhang Yuming described such a picture: Rare migrant birds such as oriental white storks, black storks and cygnets spend winter here and welcome the coming new year together with the deer, after flying a long distance and finally landing on the Swan Island after careful selection.
保护区下一个目标：建成中国麋鹿优质种源基地，打造中国麋鹿基因库。
The next goal of the reserve is to build a high-quality germ plasm base for the Chinese Milu deer and to create a gene pool for them.
温华军透露，保护区内鹿王争霸，促优质基因繁衍，同时咱们和北京南海子有着种源交流。
Wen revealed that the competition for the alpha male Milu deer in the reserve helps to promote the propagation of good genes. Meanwhile, there is germ plasm exchange between populations in Shishou of Hubei and Nanhaizi of Beijing.
“加快信息化建设，提高管护效益。”温华军介绍一揽子措施，保护区增设3个塔台监控探头，7公里防线加密红外摄像头，实现清晰全覆盖，在麋鹿主要活动区域悄悄设置摄像装备，记录生活动态，建麋鹿博物馆进行科普教育……
“We should accelerate the information construction and improve the efficiency of management and protection.” Wen introduced a package of measures, such as setting up three additional tower monitoring probes and encrypted infrared camera with a 7km defense line in the reserve for clear and full coverage, secretly setting up photograph devices in main activity areas of the Milu deer to record their life and building a deer museum for science education.
岁月轮回，新一波麋鹿宝宝已在孕育中，待2023年春风又绿江南岸时，它们就会瓜熟蒂落似地投入天鹅洲的怀抱，更添生机、活力、野性和美好……
Between the years of reincarnation, a new wave of fawns is in gestation. When the vernal wind greens the island again in 2023, these younglings will be thrown into the arms of the Swan Island, adding vitality, wildness and beauty to the reserve.