Getting to Know David’s Deer: an Endangered Animal
Scientifically known as Milu Cervus davianus or Elaphurus davidianus, David’s deer has an unusual physical characteristic – its light brown antlers are forked at the tips. It is native to China, Japan, and Korea although it has also been seen in England. This could have been because of trade between the two countries decades ago.
The antlers are legendary for having had aphrodisiac powers and this is probably the main reason why it became extinct as a wild animal many years ago. At the same time, the only remaining David’s deer in the world was a herd kept in captivity in Beijing’s Imperial Hunting Park. It was here that a young man named Pere Armond David saw the deer and in 1865, bribed a guard to give him a pair of antlers and skin which he sent to France. Thus, the origin of the name, David’s deer is explained.
Thirty years after this happened, a great flood hit the park and it killed almost all the animals. A few David’s deer survived and sent to Beijing Zoo. One particular Duke from Bedford brought a handful to his home in Woburn Abbey. They lived there and began to populate. Meanwhile in China, the 1900s was the year all David’s deer were killed. First by hungry European soldiers, and then in 1939, the last of David’s deer was shot dead.
Through persistent collaboration and support from the Englishman, the 14th duke, the Marquess of Tavistock who is a descendent of the Duke of Bedford decided to give China a gift of 22 David’s deer in 1985. The deer was first placed in captivity at the South lake garden but later set free in Central China near the Yangtze River – their natural habitat.
Today, David’s deer has managed to grow in numbers to 1,000 through the efforts of the China Wildlife Conservation Awards and South Lake Garden.
David’s deer has been called the “weirdest deer of all deer species.” The males are almost double the weight of the females making them the largest male deer with a cow-like face. The tail of this deer has a tassel and the deer sports a heavy coat with long hair. They like to spray their bodies with urine and dress their antlers with mud and leaves. They can grow 2 sets of antlers in a year if they are well cared for.
