As summer rains soak the coast, over 400 wild milu deer now roam the tidal flats of Rudong county of Nantong, Jiangsu province.

Since 2019, when wild milu deer were first recorded in Rudong, their presence has grown from a solitary one or two individuals into three stable herds.

Migratory birds are also returning in large numbers. A single survey in late April recorded nearly 20,000 birds of 106 species, including dozens of nationally protected ones, resting and refueling on the mudflats along the East Asian–Australasian flyway.

Migratory birds rest on the intertidal wetlands of Rudong. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

Behind the boom are years of environmental efforts. Rudong has stepped up pollution control, removed invasive plants from coastal wetlands, and implemented integrated conservation of beaches, forests, farmland and water systems in recent years.

As a result, the county logs over 100 new species each year, a steady rise that local authorities call solid proof of ecosystem recovery.

With the calving season still underway, more fawns are expected. For migratory birds, the restored shores offer a vital pit stop before their long journeys north. Rudong's green push is securing a safer passage for biodiversity along China's coast.