The foundation was founded in 1985 by Lü Zhengcao, Qian Changzhao and Burhan Shahidi, the former vice-chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, to support the breeding and popularization of endangered Père David's deer species which was reintroduced back to China at that time.

Hu Deping is the current chairman of the foundation and Zhou Jinfeng, former deputy head of the Chinese Communist Party's United Front Work Department, is its secretary general.

[5][6] It works with schools and with a large network of wildlife volunteers through local initiatives in target areas to ensure safe flyways for migratory birds.

[13] Endangered species the foundation focuses on include pangolin,[14] great bustard,[15] Yangtze River dolphin,[16] bluefin tuna,[17][18][19][20] acer pentaphyllum, etc.

[24] Famous cases include the lawsuit against Tengger Desert Pollution,[25] the litigation against oil giants ConocoPhillips and CNOOC over Bohai Bay oil spill,[26] and to protect old red willows from a hydropower project,[27] on old date trees,[28] to safeguard cultural and historic relics,[29] to protect Giant Panda, on poisonous school running tracks,[30][31] and the failed Changzhou School case,[32][33] etc.