A Chinese serow stranded on a sandbar in the middle of a river has been safely rescued and released back into the wild at the Daxueshan National Nature Reserve in Yongde county, Yunnan province.

Patrol staff received reports of a trapped wild animal in the reserve and quickly arrived at the scene to find the serow struggling on a sandbar as evening approached. With temperatures dropping and the river current strong, the animal was at risk of hypothermia and exhaustion.

The team secured the area to prevent further distress and reported the situation to the reserve management bureau. A rescue team was assembled. Using a soft rope, the team carefully secured the serow and lifted it from the water to a safe spot on the riverbank.

An examination revealed a minor injury on its left hind leg, which was treated. After assessing its condition, the team determined the animal was fit to return to the wild and released it into a nearby natural forest area.

The Chinese serow, a member of the Bovidae family, is listed as a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. In China, it is mainly found in Yunnan province, the Xizang autonomous region, and Qinghai province.