Wildlife and Livestock Coexist on Hainan County Grasslands as Vegetation Coverage Reaches 72.06 Percent

Dragon Media News Desk

Wild red deer have been seen grazing and moving calmly among domestic livestock in Hainan Mongolian Autonomous County of Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, offering a vivid sign of improving ecological conditions in the area.

Recent scenes from the county’s vast grasslands showed herds of red deer mingling with yaks and other livestock. The animals, which normally remain wary of people and human activity, appeared comfortable moving close to pastoral areas.

Red deer are listed as a second-class nationally protected wild animal in China. They generally inhabit high-altitude mountainous and rocky areas and tend to avoid human settlements. Their growing presence near livestock areas in Hainan County is being viewed as an indication of improving habitats and reduced disturbance.

Local authorities say better grass and water resources, declining human interference and stronger habitat protection have created more favourable conditions for wildlife.

Hainan County lies within an important ecological conservation area in the upper reaches of the Yellow River. Local authorities have for years treated ecological protection as a foundation of development, with particular emphasis on grassland restoration, biodiversity conservation and sustainable animal husbandry.

As a result of these efforts, the county has received national-level recognition for ecological civilisation development and for applying the green development principle that “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets.”

According to the latest available figures, overall vegetation coverage across the county’s grasslands has reached 72.06 percent, placing it among the highest in Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture and among the leading areas in Qinghai Province.

Nearly 10 million mu of grassland in the county has also maintained organic certification for 19 consecutive years, reflecting long-term efforts to protect ecological quality and develop environmentally sustainable pastoral production.

As vegetation has recovered, wildlife activity has also become more visible. The sight of wild red deer grazing peacefully among domestic animals has become a striking example of coexistence between wildlife, pastoral livelihoods and the natural environment.

The developments in Hainan County also illustrate how long-term ecological conservation can help create conditions in which biodiversity protection and local economic life can coexist more sustainably.