VIETNAMESE SIKA DEER
Class: Mammals
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Deer
Genus: Cervus
Species: Nippon
Subspecies: Pseudaxis
Geographic distribution: Northern Vietnam
Habitat: Wooded areas and dense undergrowth
Height: 80 cm at the shoulder
Lifespan: 12 to 25 years
Weight: 33 to 90 kg
Sexual Maturity: 16-18 months
Gestation: 7.5 months
Litter: 1 pup
Diet: Herbivore, grasses, leaves, fruits, lichens, fungi, bark
Protection Status: IUCN Status CR – Critically Endangered
Description
The Vietnamese sika deer is a subspecies of the sika deer. These animals are polygamous: one male is capable of gathering up to 12 females on his territory during the breeding season. They are also highly expressive vocally, with a repertoire of 10distinct sounds, ranging from gentle whistles and bleats reminiscent of a goat, to impressive whinnies and roars comparable to those of a fawn.
Threats and preservation
The Vietnamese sika deer, once found in the north ofthe country, now survives in only a small wild population. Intensive hunting has led to its virtual disappearance, bringing this subspecies to the brink of extinction. Fortunately, the Vietnamese sika deer iswell represented in captivity, enabling reintroduction programs to be launched in two Vietnamese national parks.
