More than 180 white-lipped deer gathered along the banks of the Yalong River in Shiqu County, southwest China's Sichuan Province, on August 18.

After scouts found a suitable crossing point, a lead group entered the water. The deer swam to the other side, bounded over roadside barriers one by one and continued their seasonal migration.

The white-lipped deer is a rare large deer species found only in China, mainly inhabiting alpine meadows and shrublands at elevations of 3,500 to 5,100 meters.

In recent years, Shiqu County has stepped up conservation efforts and patrols, contributing to more frequent sightings and signs of population recovery.