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Animals
Special Issues
Advances in Ungulate Science: Behavior, Physiology, Reproduction and Conservation
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Advances in Ungulate Science: Behavior, Physiology, Reproduction and Conservation

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Mammals".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 February 2026 | Viewed by 2157

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Francisco Ceacero

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Guest Editor
Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
Interests: animal behaviour; captive breeding; cervids; husbandry; physiology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Katarzyna Tajchman

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Animal Ethology and Wildlife Management, Faculty of Animal Sciences and Bioeconomy, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Lublin, Poland
Interests: deer farming; wildlife management; human-animal conflict; wild animals as bioindicators; ethology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Among other factors, human activities and climate change have dramatically altered ecosystems worldwide. These changes have led to imbalance between animal communities, with some very adaptable species increasing their numbers beyond their normal densities while others disappear, decline, or reduce in distribution. Ungulates are a good example of the latter, and, given their role as key ecosystem engineers, positive or negative changes in their distribution and number exacerbate change across the entire natural environment. Nature restoration efforts are increasingly being made in many parts of the world. The restoration of ungulate communities through reintroduction and rewilding initiatives is one a cornerstone functional ecosystem restoration, and these activities require strong scientific background knowledge.

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to a Special Issue titled “Advances in Ungulate Science: Behavior, Physiology, Reproduction and Conservation”, in which we aim to compile articles, reviews, communications, and commentaries about recent trends on ungulate science. Studies focused on behavioral, physiological, and reproductive aspects of these species, leading to optimized captive breeding and/or successful conservation, reintroduction, and rewilding projects are welcome.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Francisco Ceacero
Dr. Katarzyna Tajchman
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • captive breeding
  • functional ecosystems
  • habitat restoration
  • reintroduction
  • rewilding

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 8477 KB  
Article
Reestablishment and Conservation Implications of the Milu Deer Population in Poyang Lake
by Zhibin Cheng, Zhenyu Zhong, Bin Xiong, Xinghua Zhong, Jialiang Ma, Daoli Liu, Chenmiao Feng, Qingyun Guo, Qingxun Zhang, Jiade Bai and Kun Cheng
Animals 2025, 15(23), 3446; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15233446 - 29 Nov 2025
Viewed by 276
Abstract
Reintroduction has been recognized as a vital approach to protecting and restoring wild populations of rare and endangered species. Although numerous reintroduction programs have been launched worldwide, in-depth studies on population establishment, dynamics, distribution patterns, and challenges remain limited. The Milu (Elaphurus [...] Read more.
Reintroduction has been recognized as a vital approach to protecting and restoring wild populations of rare and endangered species. Although numerous reintroduction programs have been launched worldwide, in-depth studies on population establishment, dynamics, distribution patterns, and challenges remain limited. The Milu (Elaphurus davidianus), endemic to China and once declared Extinct in the Wild by the IUCN, has become one of the most successful examples of global endangered species reintroduction since the initiation of its recovery program in 1985. Focusing on the reintroduction project in the Poyang Lake basin—China’s largest freshwater lake—this study analyzed 14 years of monitoring data to examine the processes of population re-establishment, demographic trends, and spatiotemporal distribution of the species, while also identifying major ongoing challenges. Findings reveal the following: (1) the acclimatization process was essential for 10 individuals first reintroduced in 2013, and then 30 individuals joined to the growing population, followed by the largest-scale release of 47 in 2018, which finally led to eight consecutive years of natural reproduction, with a theoretically estimated population of 89 individuals until August 2025; (2) among 1697 individual sightings in 238 monitoring events, 952 records can be distinguished between male and female individuals (sex ratio = 1:1.63), yielding a mean herd size of 7.28 ± 0.68 individuals per sighting event—although numbers rose slightly in 2024, a declining trend was observed from 2019 to 2023 (from 11.26 to 5.13); (3) the Milu have expanded their range across eastern Poyang Lake, demonstrating a behavioral patterns of migrating out of the lake zone during flood seasons and returning in dry season; (4) the restoration of the Milu population is a systematic endeavor, in which government support and the participation of conservation professionals, scientists, volunteers, media, and the public are critical factors; and (5) ongoing threats such as human disturbance (e.g., habitat degradation) and climate change continue to jeopardize long-term population viability. This study offers important scientific insights into the recovery of endangered wildlife globally and underscores the essential role of governmental commitment, long-term monitoring, and multi-stakeholder collaboration in species reintroduction efforts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Ungulate Science: Behavior, Physiology, Reproduction and Conservation)
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22 pages, 3932 KB  
Article
Human–Wildlife Interactions: Cultural Sensitivities and Perspectives Influence the Conservation of the Philippine Brown Deer (Rusa marianna Desmarest, 1822)
by Jhonnel P. Villegas, Lenilyn R. Pua, Aneta Vidláková and Francisco Ceacero
Animals 2025, 15(23), 3397; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15233397 - 25 Nov 2025
Viewed by 760
Abstract
The Philippine brown deer (Rusa marianna Desmarest, 1822) is a tropical cervid increasingly threatened by hunting and habitat loss. It is endemic to the Philippine archipelago, now listed as Endangered under the Philippine Red List and as Vulnerable in the IUCN Red [...] Read more.
The Philippine brown deer (Rusa marianna Desmarest, 1822) is a tropical cervid increasingly threatened by hunting and habitat loss. It is endemic to the Philippine archipelago, now listed as Endangered under the Philippine Red List and as Vulnerable in the IUCN Red List. This study examined the cultural sensitivities and perspectives of the Mandaya Indigenous peoples through in-depth interviews with 29 Indigenous experts and community observations from Davao Oriental, Philippines. In Mandaya cosmology, the brown deer is known as Yatag ni Magbabaya, or a gift from the Creator, and is regarded as an integral part of Mandaya culture and the ancestral lands. The brown deer is a sacred species and an indigenous food source, and its hunting is a Mandaya tradition passed down through generations. Anthropogenic disturbances remain the leading threats against the brown deer, including forest clearing and indiscriminate hunting. Poverty is also a critical driver of hunting pressures, inducing many community members to depend on forest resources and products. The causal layered analysis revealed that human-deer interactions shape local perspectives on conservation, providing insights into the effectiveness of national protection policies. In addition, the futures triangle envisions a sustainable brown deer population to address food security and economic challenges. The research findings call for culturally sensitive conservation strategies and contextualised community education that align with the Mandayas’ traditions and values. Their engagement ensures that conservation goals are met while addressing the community’s socio-economic needs. This study also emphasises the urgent need to reassess the brown deer conservation status to inform protection and management decisions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Ungulate Science: Behavior, Physiology, Reproduction and Conservation)
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17 pages, 2471 KB  
Article
Behavioral Plasticity of Rewilding Milu in Mountainous Region of Northern China
by Jialiang Ma, Jiade Bai, Ritu Su, Haibo Ma, Chenmiao Feng, Zhenyu Zhong, Qingyun Guo, Qingxun Zhang, Zhibin Cheng and Kun Cheng
Animals 2025, 15(20), 2993; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15202993 - 15 Oct 2025
Viewed by 652
Abstract
Species rewilding, as a key strategy for rescuing endangered species and rebuilding wild populations, fundamentally relies on the behavioral plasticity of specific wildlife species. Although most current rewilding initiatives select optimal habitats, research on behavioral adaptation mechanisms in more challenging, extreme environments remains [...] Read more.
Species rewilding, as a key strategy for rescuing endangered species and rebuilding wild populations, fundamentally relies on the behavioral plasticity of specific wildlife species. Although most current rewilding initiatives select optimal habitats, research on behavioral adaptation mechanisms in more challenging, extreme environments remains lacking. The Milu (Elaphurus davidianus), a typical wetland and plain species, naturally inhabits the warm marshlands of the Yangtze and Yellow River basins. In this study, using GPS tracking data, we focused on a population of rewilding Milu on the Inner Mongolia Plateau to investigate behavioral plasticity in terms of home range area, activity rhythm, and movement distance, aimed to elucidate their survival adaptation strategies within mid-elevation and cold environments. The results indicated significant seasonal and sex-based differences in both home range and movement distance: home ranges contract and movement distances are minimized during winter, while spatial activity expands markedly in summer—and continues to increase year by year following rewilding. During the study period, the number of daily activity peaks per individual ranged from zero to four. Furthermore, peak timing exhibited clear seasonal variation, with crepuscular patterns—morning and evening activity peaks—predominant across most months. Approximately three months after release, the activity rhythms of both males and females stabilized. These findings reveal key behavioral adjustments of Milu translocated to a mountainous, cold-temperate environment outside its original distribution range, and provide a scientific basis for long-term management and for assessing the ecological adaptability of this introduced population. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Ungulate Science: Behavior, Physiology, Reproduction and Conservation)
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