Wang Yushan used to be a famous hunter of wild roe deer 30 years ago, but now he boasts a fame -- the first person in China to breed roe deer in captivity.

Wang, who lives in Weichang Manchu and Mongolian Autonomous County in Hebei Province, north China, had killed more than 800 wild roe deer before he put down his gun in 1987.

It was the deteriorating environment and sharp drop in the number of wild animals that impelled him to stop hunting, Wang said. What's more, he tried to raise roe deer at his home, with the feeling that he should atone for his "crimes" against nature.

Familiar with the living habits of roe deer, Wang has mastered roe deer nurturing skills and succeeded in rearing 360 roe deer since 1987.

In Wang's hometown, roe deer used to be one of the many animals that were hunted at the Mulan Weichang, an imperial hunting ground in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). The site is more than 300 km from Beijing.

According to historical records, the emperors of Kangxi, Qianlong and Jiaqing went hunting at Mulan Weichang 92 times over a period of 140 years. It was said that Kangxi once killed over 700 roe deer in one excursion.

Wang is happy to see more local residents join him in the effort of rescuing wild roe deer. In the county, 38 households are engaged in raising roe deer, with the number in captivity exceeding 400.

Wang alone has returned more than 200 roe deer to the wild.

(Xinhua News Agency July 31, 2002)