a few of the deer had previously been illegally transported to europe for exhibition and breeding. after the extirpation of the chinese population in 1900, herbrand russell, 11th duke of bedford, was instrumental in saving the species. he acquired the few remaining deer from european zoos and nurtured a herd at woburn abbey. threatened again by both world wars, the species survived largely due to the efforts of bedford and his son hastings, later 12th duke of bedford. the current world population, now found in zoos around the world, stems from the woburn abbey herd. . only three founders (1 male, two females) from the berlin zoo contributed to the current population of more than 5,000.