Père David's Deerシフゾウ
Elaphurus davidianusEW— Extinct in the Wild
Père David's deer is a wetland-adapted deer once native to the river valleys of China that went extinct in the wild by 1939. The entire species survived only through a captive herd established at England's Woburn Abbey, descended from animals sent to Europe before the extinction. Reintroduction to China began in 1985, and by 2020 the wild population had grown to an estimated 2,825 individuals, alongside thousands more in reserves — a rare conservation success story, though the IUCN still lists the species as Extinct in the Wild pending reassessment.
Père David's Deer (reference photo)
Species Data
- Classification
- Artiodactyla / Cervidae Source
- Size
- Shoulder height 122–137 cm, body length 183–216 cm
- Weight
- Males about 214 kg, females about 159 kg
- Lifespan
- Record of 23 years 3 months in captivity
- Diet
- Herbivore Herbivorous, feeding mainly on grasses, leaves, and aquatic plants
- Distribution
- Historically native to the subtropical river valleys of China; extinct in the wild but sustained today through reintroduction and captive breeding. Source
- Sources
- ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org
Did You Know?
- Its Chinese name, sibuxiang, means "four not alike," referring to features resembling a deer, a horse, a cow, and a donkey combined. Source
- Flooding and unrest around 1900 wiped out even the captive herds in China, but the lineage preserved at Woburn Abbey in England was reintroduced to China starting in 1985. Source
- Well adapted to wetlands, it is a strong swimmer able to submerge up to its shoulders and readily feeds on aquatic vegetation. Source
Where to See This Species
Operating facilities registered on this site: Japan 2
Kyoto City ZooKyotoOpened in 1903
Source links to official sites, official YouTube channels, and news aggregators such as Zoo Ring. Visit the publisher for the full item.
Conservation Story
Conservation Status
Extinct in the Wild (EW)
Sources
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FAQ
- Why is Père David's deer called 'four not alike' in Chinese?
- Its Chinese name, sibuxiang, reflects features that resemble four different animals: antlers like a deer, a neck like a camel or horse, hooves like a cow, and a tail like a donkey. Source
- Is Père David's deer extinct?
- It went extinct in the wild by 1939, but a captive herd preserved at Woburn Abbey in England saved the species, and reintroduction to China since 1985 has restored a wild population of over 2,800 animals as of 2020. Source
- Is Père David's deer a good swimmer?
- Yes. It is well adapted to wetlands, capable of swimming while submerged up to its shoulders and feeding readily on aquatic plants. Source
- How many operating facilities are registered here?
- Operating facilities registered on this site: Japan 2 Source
Books & gear
Source: ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org