Three wild elks are seen in a coastal wetland in Hai'an, Nantong, Jiangsu province on May 3. [Photo/ntfabu.com]

Three wild elks were spotted in a coastal wetland in Hai'an, Nantong, Jiangsu province on May 3, offering a big surprise for visitors, local media outlets reported.

The unexpected sight was hailed as the "biggest bonus brought about by the improved coastal environment" by visitors.

In recent years, Nantong has focused on bolstering natural environment conservation efforts and stopping over development.

The local government has rolled out measures to boost biodiversity, including introducing relevant policies, as well as cooperating with Shanghai and other cities in the Yangtze River Delta region.

The city took the lead in Jiangsu province in completing the biodiversity survey within its jurisdiction. The results show that the city is currently home to 2,234 kinds of species.

Earlier in April, about 14 black-faced spoonbills, one of the world's most endangered species, were seen in the Xiaoyangkou wetland in Rudong, which has become an ideal home for endangered birds.

No less than 100 spoon-billed sandpipers stop in the wetland to rest every spring and autumn. The number accounts for about one fourth of the bird total population worldwide.

In addition to the coastal area, the Five Mountain area in downtown Nantong is also regarded as a biological gene bank, which is rarely seen amid the hustle and bustle of a city.

Specifically, the 15.8-hectare area at the southeastern foot of Junshan Mountain has preserved a stable natural landscape for dozens of years, making it a great home for birds, insects, and plants.

Statistics show that the area is currently home to 389 species of plants, including 207 edible plants and 160 plants that can be used for medicine. It also has more than 220 species of animals, 82 species of birds, and 117 species of insects.