Infrared cameras capture dramatic battles of wild deer for territory and mates

Infrared footage from the Saihan Wula National Nature Reserve in Chifeng City, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, has recently captured vivid scenes of Manchurian wapiti, a protected species, bellowing and battling for territory and mates.

The Manchurian wapiti is a proposed subspecies of the wapiti native to East Asia. The wapiti is currently listed under second-class state protection in China.

The video footage includes scenes of an adult male deer bellowing, as well as a dramatic confrontation between two males fighting for territory and mates.

"The bellowing of deer peaks in September and October, primarily as males attempt to attract females," said Hong Meijing, head of the scientific monitoring section at the reserve.

To support conservation efforts, researchers have installed 59 infrared cameras in the reserve and employ technologies such as GPS collars and DNA analysis to track the Manchurian wapiti population. These methods provide vital data on their behavior and population dynamics, forming a solid foundation for developing effective protection strategies.

According to the Chifeng Wild Plant and Animal Protection Association, the latest monitoring indicates that the Manchurian wapiti population across seven reserves in the region has grown to approximately 12,000.

(Cover: A wapiti. /CFP)