Père David’s Deer
I.U.C.N status
International Union for Conservation of Nature
Identity card
Grasses, leaves, young shoots, aquatic plants.
Did you know?
The Chinese nicknamed it “sì bù xiàng”, which translates as “resembles none of the four”. This curious name refers to its appearance: a camel’s neck, cow’s hooves, a donkey’s tail, and deer antlers pointing backwards. Herds are made up of either males, or females accompanied by their young. During the breeding season, males engage in fights in order to form a harem.
Threats and conservation
Discovered in 1865 by Father Armand David in the imperial gardens of Beijing, Père David’s deer had already disappeared in the wild. A few individuals were sent to European zoos, and in the 1980s, herds from England were reintroduced to China. Today, more than 1,300 deer live in reserves in their country of origin.
