A herd of 15 Tianshan red deer, a nationally protected species, was recently spotted foraging in the snow-covered forests of Huocheng County, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in northwest China. The sighting reflects improving ecological conditions and successful conservation efforts in the region, where forestry authorities have intensified patrols, cracked down on illegal hunting and conducted winter feeding to help wildlife survive harsh conditions. These measures have contributed to a steady rise in local wildlife population.