A sambar deer moved to the Guizhou Forest Wildlife Zoo in Guiyang City, southwest China's Guizhou Province, on Monday after living with villagers for three years.

The sambar deer comes under second-class protection in China and is listed as "vulnerable" by the IUCN Red List.

The injured deer accidentally broke into a nursery base in Chengguan Village of Xiuwen County in February 2016. Noticing several wounds on its body, the villagers built a 30-square-meter shelter for it to recuperate.

Local authorities decided to temporarily keep it in the village while making efforts to find an ideal home for the deer.

The zoo authorities have prepared a special enclosure of nearly 700 square meters for the deer. 

"I came to see the sambar deer today. It is doing well in the wooden cage, it's condition is stable. So we have decide to take it away," said Du Shaojun, deputy head of the Guiyang Wildlife Management Station.

Having spent memorable three years with the adorable deer, villagers bid an emotional adieu to the deer.

The sambar deer seldom move far from water sources. "We plan to build a water pool here," said Fan Changda, head of the Animal Management Department at the Guizhou Forest Wildlife Zoo.

(Cover image via VCG)

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