Integrating Land-Cover Dynamics and Management Records for Recovery Monitoring of Hainan Eld’s Deer in Datian National Nature Reserve

Datian National Nature Reserve is a principal conservation site for the endangered Hainan Eld’s deer (Rucervus eldii hainanus). We integrated annual 10 m land-cover maps (2017–2025) as well as the statutory reserve redline, management fence, external ring and reserve management records to examine how these complementary sources can support recovery monitoring at the protected-area scale. Inside the redline, the combined area of trees, grass and shrub/scrub declined during 2017–2021 and partially recovered during 2021–2025. An exploratory land-cover screening index changed from 0.675 to 0.666 and then to 0.667, showing modest variation under the specified rule-based scoring scheme. External rings contained higher proportions of crops and built area and were treated as surrounding land-use context rather than a measured edge-effect gradient. Available annual monitoring counts fluctuated between 336 and 425 individuals, and two releases added 93 deer after the respective annual surveys. Probable python predation accounted for 68.3% of recorded deaths during 2020–2025; attributions were based on available carcass evidence and field observations. Systematic occurrence records and spatially complete locations for releases and mortality events were unavailable, so fine-scale habitat selection, release-site suitability and mortality hotspots could not be assessed. This assessment provides a practical baseline for recovery monitoring, whereas assessing habitat use and demographic processes requires dedicated field data.