Japanese Serowニホンカモシカ

Capricornis crispusLC— Least Concern

The Japanese serow (Capricornis crispus) is a stocky, goat-like bovid endemic to Japan and the only wild bovid species living in the country today. Found in mountain forests on Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu, it is a solitary, territorial browser that marks its range with scent glands. Once nearly hunted to extinction, it was designated a Special Natural Monument in 1955 and has since recovered to Least Concern status.

Japanese Serow (reference photo)
Illustration: DataBase Center for Life Science (DBCLS) / CC BY 4.0 / Source / cropped

Species Data

Classification
Artiodactyla / Bovidae Source
Distribution
Endemic to Japan, distributed across mountainous regions of Honshu east of Kyoto Prefecture, plus Shikoku and Kyushu. Source

Did You Know?

  • It is the only wild bovid living in modern Japan and was designated a Special Natural Monument in 1955. Source
  • Both sexes carry non-shedding conical horns and live as solitary, territorial animals. Source
  • Overhunting reduced the population to an estimated 2,000-3,000 individuals by around 1955, but protection measures allowed it to recover to Least Concern status. Source

Where to See This Species

8 facilities · 0 individuals

わんぱーくこうちアニマルランド (Wan Park Kouchianimaru Land)Kochi所在地は高知市桟橋通6-9-1（わんぱーくこうち内）。

わんぱーくこうちアニマルランドのWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

桐生が岡動物園 (Kiryuugaoka Doubutsuen)Gunma自動車の場合、カーナビ検索は「桐生が岡動物園」ではなく「桐生が岡遊園地」で設定すると駐車場に到着できる（動物園名で検索すると誤った経路になる場合がある）。

桐生が岡動物園のWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

埼玉県こども動物自然公園 (Saitamakenkodomodoubutsu Shizen Kouen)SaitamaOpened in 1980

埼玉県こども動物自然公園のWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

長野市茶臼山動物園 (Naganoshichausuyama Doubutsuen)NaganoJR篠ノ井駅が最寄り駅。

長野市茶臼山動物園のWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

東京都恩賜上野動物園 (Toukyoutoonshiueno Doubutsuen)TokyoOpened in 1882

東京都恩賜上野動物園のWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

飯田市立動物園 (Iida Shiritsu Doubutsuen)Nagano

飯田市立動物園のWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

富山市ファミリーパーク (Toyamashifamiri Park)ToyamaOpened in 1984

富山市ファミリーパークのWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical GardensAichiOpened in 1937

名古屋市東山動物園のWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

Conservation Story

Conservation Status

IUCNではLC。日本の固有種として保全と生息地管理が続く。

Habitat

日本の山地にある落葉広葉樹林、針葉樹林、岩場。

Threats

  • 森林環境の変化
  • 交通事故
  • 地域的な生息地の分断

Conservation & Breeding Efforts

  • 生息地の保全
  • 個体群の調査
  • 保護と教育展示

Sources

ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org

Support Conservation

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Furusato Nozei
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FAQ

Is the Japanese serow the only wild bovine in Japan?
Yes. It is the only wild ruminant of the cattle family (Bovidae) native to modern Japan. Source
Why is it a protected species?
After overhunting reduced its population to an estimated 2,000-3,000 individuals by 1955, Japan designated it a Special Natural Monument, and its numbers have since recovered. Source

Source: ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org