A ranger at a national nature reserve in east China's Zhejiang Province has devoted over 20 years to capturing images of sika deer to raise public awareness for biodiversity protection.
Zhang Shuyan works at the Qianqingtang protection station in the Qingliangfeng National Nature Reserve, where he is responsible for forest patrols, wildlife detection and rescue operations.
He first started taking pictures of sika deer in 1998. Since the national nature reserve was established that same year, Zhang has continued to take on responsibilities for monitoring, protecting and photographing the species.
During the breeding season in October and November, male wild sika deer will display their antlers to attract females and compete with other males. Zhang follows their tracks during patrols, capturing valuable photos of these moments. Many netizens affectionately refer to the 58-year-old as the "Daddy of Deer."
Zhang first encountered sika deer at the age of 22 while working as a forest ranger.
"That day, I suddenly saw several sika deer leaping out, and they were quite close to me. I could hear their calls. They then ran to the mountaintop. A majestic male deer stood on a rock, with two impressive antlers," said Zhang.
After the unexpected encounter, Zhang began to look forward to each patrol, eager to spot sika deer again. To better understand their habits, he immersed himself in books about sika deer, studying diligently.
"I naturally grew fond of these sika deer. I learned experience from the elders. For example, they teach me how to observe the difference between the footprints of male and female deer, as well as those of deer and wild boars," said Zhang.
To capture images of wild sika deer, Zhang traversed nearly every mountain in the reserve where the deer might reside. The images he took became his most cherished treasures.
After joining the Qingliangfeng National Nature Reserve as a ranger in 2000, his work in forest patrols and wildlife monitoring allowed him to interact more closely with sika deer.
Zhang spends 330 days a year stationed on mountains with an elevation of over 1,100 meters.
In 2002, a villager discovered a newborn wild sika deer, which was then sent to the protection station for rescue.
Zhang learned that since the fawn had been contaminated with human scent, it is unlikely to be accepted by its mother after back into the wild.
"We fed it with goat milk and enlisted the help of a sheep farmer to care for it. We later named her 'Qian Qian' (literally 'pretty') because she is a female deer," said Zhang.
Nurturing Qian Qian required careful attention to maintain her wild instincts. Over time, Zhang gained a deeper understanding of the temperament of wild sika deer.
"We recorded her weight and temperature every day, especially the weight. Sometimes we took her out and someone approached, she would get frightened and run into the woods. It often took a long time to coax her back. If she was frightened, she might not gain weight that day," said Zhang.
Zhang documented Qian Qian's growth through his camera, sharing her daily life with netizens.
"Seeing them in good condition brings me great joy. As I mentioned the other day, we treat them as if they were our children. Their well-being is what makes us truly happy," said Zhang.
Zhang has created accounts on short video platforms to share the daily life of wild animals, aiming to help more people understand and appreciate wild animals.
"I mainly post biodiversity information on Weibo (a social media platform). I document various moments during my daily patrols and share them online. I also engage with my fans and friends. Here's a video of a little barking deer," said Zhang.
The barking deer was first discovered by villagers near the reserve when it was just born, said Zhang. After receiving the little creature, Zhang began to care for it, bringing it to the lake daily for feeding and play.
"Sometimes netizens contribute to the cost of nurturing the little barking deer. They will send milk powder, pacifiers and milk bottles whenever I ask online," said Zhang.
Zhang is often invited by local schools to share his experiences and passion for nature with children.
"Loving nature requires actions, not just words," said Yan Luyi, one of the students.
"I prefer to tell stories about nature. I think this kind of communication plants seeds in students' hearts. As long as there are seeds, no matter how few, they will find more strength to love nature throughout their lives," said Zhang.
Ranger captures sika deer photos for biodiversity protection
