A national protection research center for elk was established in Beijing on Tuesday, marking a new step in China's scientific protection of elk and other deer species across the country, according to the National Forestry and Grassland Administration.

Elk are large herbivorous animals native to China and are classified as a national first-class protected animal.

They lived in China for millions of years but became extinct in the early 20th century due to natural disasters and increased human activities. Since 1985, China has reintroduced in batches a total of 77 elk from abroad. Through measures such as artificial breeding and rewilding, the current elk population in China has exceeded 10,000, according to the administration's data.

In 1985, the Beijing Elk Ecological Experiment Center was established, and it implemented a strategy for elk population restoration, involving reintroduction to the wild after ex-situ population restoration.

According to Bai Jiade, the director of the center, there are currently about 160 elk at the center. China has established 94 ex-situ elk populations and reintroduced elk in wild in places such as Yancheng in Jiangsu province, Shishou in Hubei province and Daqingshan in Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

Ji Jianwei, an investigator at the wildlife and wetland protection office of the Beijing Municipal Forestry and Parks Bureau, said the national elk protection research center, based on the Beijing Elk Ecological Experiment Center, will focus on elk breeding, research, rescue and public education.

It will promote the construction of an elk population monitoring platform and a genetic resource gene bank for elk, as well as promote international cooperation and public education.

On the same day, an academic committee for deer research under the national research center was also established in Beijing. It aims to become a high-end think tank for scientific innovation in the research of elk and other deer species.