DISCUSSION ON THE VANISHING OF THE WILD BUFFALO, DAVID DEER AND CHINESE ALLIGATOR IN THE MIDDLE-LOWER REACHES OF YELLOW RIVER
试论野生水牛、四不像鹿和中国鼍在黄河中下游的绝迹

This study is based on a combination of archaeological studies, historical documents and practical investigation. It indicated that during the midterm Eocene epoch or before the wild buffalo, david deer and Chinese alligator originated from the middle lower reaches of Yellow River. The large flock of those animals indicates that it was temperate climate, and rivers were well developed there. Later, until the later period of Eocene epoch, especially in west Han Dynasty, the vanishing of the wild buffalo, david deer and Chinese alligator indicated the serious ecocide. Nowadays this land has become a dry place that local people regard water as "gold". Windblown sand is now everywhere. This study, especially the cause of aridity, will be useful in keeping a sustainable development in the fragile middle lower reaches of Yellow River.