Wild deer spotted in Wuxi, a sign of thriving ecology

A yellow muntjac is spotted in Huishan Mountain National Forest Park. [Photo/WeChat account: news-wuxixinwen]

Hikers in Wuxi's Huishan Mountain National Forest Park have recently been treated to an unexpected sight: a pair of small, deer-like animals roaming the woodland trails.

One visitor shared photos on social media after spotting the two creatures during a climb, and wildlife experts who reviewed the images believe the animals are most likely yellow muntjacs — small members of the deer family native to the region.

Also known as barking deer due to the dog-like sound they make when startled, yellow muntjacs are notoriously shy and skittish. They are primarily nocturnal and tend to favor dense shrubbery and forest paths.

In China, they are listed as protected wildlife, recognized for their ecological, scientific, and social value. It is illegal to capture or harm them.

Huishan Mountain National Forest Park, with its lush vegetation and well-preserved natural environment, has become a frequent sighting area for both yellow muntjacs and their close relatives, the red muntjacs. The latter, distinguishable by their reddish-brown fur, had vanished from the area for nearly half a century but has been gradually returning to the hills in recent years.

The growing presence of muntjacs in the forest park is seen as an encouraging sign of the area's improving ecological health. The dense undergrowth and peaceful forest conditions provide a stable habitat for these small deer to settle and breed.