Common Name: Sika deer
Scientific Name: Cervus nippon
Conservation Status: Least Concern
At the zoo: A herd of 5 with 1 male, Ash, and 4 females - you can find them in the SW corner of the zoo across from the oryx.
Habitat:
Range: Japan, with small populations in Russia and China. They prefer woodlands and forests with dense undergrowth. During the winter they migrate to lower valleys where water and food are easily accessible.
Diet:
Herbivore - grass, shrubs, and fruit
Maximum longevity:
27 years
Biology:
Sika deer forage alone or in small herds. As a polygamous species, successful male sika deer will gather as many as twelve females on their territory during the six-week rutting season. Female sika deer may associate with other males to gain access to several feeding grounds. Female sika deer care for their young up to one year after their birth and fawns reach reproductive maturity between 16 and 18 months of age.
Since hunting has been brought under control in Japan, sika deer have a large and growing population there. Although they also have a stable population in Russia, the species is in trouble throughout the rest of its geographic range due to habitat loss, pursuit of their antler velvet for use in traditional medicine, hunting, and the threat of hybridization with red deer.
Fun Fact:
Did you know that Sika Deer are among the few deer species that retain their spots into adulthood?!
