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Père David's deer

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Geographic distribution:

China

Scientific name:
- Elaphurus davidianus
Taxonomy:
- Class: Mammalia
- Order: Artiodactyla
- Family: Cervidae
Biology:
- Area of origin: Asia
- Habitat: Marsh
- Social life: Gregarious
- Food: Herbivorous

Rating:
- Mammals
Physical Characteristics:
- Longevity: up to 18 years
- Weight at birth: 7 kg
- Middleweight: 100 - 135 kg
- Length: 180 - 190 cm
Reproduction
- Reproduction: Viviparous
- Gestation: 270 - 300 days
- Nombre de cries: 1, rarely 2

Risk level of the species

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Red list: Scale according to the situation of the species IUCN

Risk level of the species extinct in the wild

Description

The Père David's deer has adapted to living in swamplands, as their long, wide, separated hooves let them move through mud without sinking. They are also excellent swimmers and spend long periods in the water. They predominantly eat grass although if it is scarce, they complement their diet with aquatic plants.
Reproduction is the same as the majority of deer, with fights between males and the formation of harems.
The Père David’s deer has an uncommon history: they lived in the flooded plains of northern China until croplands extended throughout the region and they completely disappeared in the wild. Western science considered them absolutely extinct until in 1865, a missionary named Father Armand David discovered a small herd of survivors in the Imperial Hunting Park in Peking. Some specimens were then sent to Woburn Abbey in England and, shortly afterwards, all the remaining specimens in China died. From the small initial herd in Woburn Abbey, Père David’s deer were sent to different parks and zoos around the world. They started to reproduce and finally, in 1986, a small group was reintroduced to their native habitat in China. This is an excellent example of the importance that zoos have these days in the conservation of animal species that are in danger of extinction.

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