2002 Volume 4 Issue 2 Pages 79-86
The Tarim red deer (Cervus elaphus yarkandensis), a subspecies of the red deer (C. elaphus), is unique among deer in exhibiting adaptations to a desert environment. The wild population of Tarim red deer has declined from 15,000 in the 1970s to 450 today because of habitat deterioration and fragmentation. Habitat reserves in oasis areas are urgently needed to ensure the persistence of this taxon. The authors recommend that Bugur Forest Park be made into a National Nature Reserve dedicated to the protection, research, and management of Tarim red deer. Also, the historical oasis corridor of poplar meadows between Xaya, Lopnur, and Qarqan should be restored to foster exchange of individuals between isolated populations.
