All information about the Vietnamese sika deer

The Vietnamese sika deer (Cervus nippon pseudaxis) is an ungulate and belongs to the subfamily of true deer (Cervinae). The Vietnamese sika deer is a subspecies of the sika deer (Cervus nippon).

The habitat of the Vietnamese sika deer

The Vietnamese sika deer is mainly found in dense, forested areas. The dense vegetation allows the animals to hide well from predators and not be noticed. While grazing, the Sika deer often stands on open grassy plains. The Vietnamese sika deer can adapt well to different habitats and the animals are found at altitudes from sea level to 1,800 meters high. They are mostly active in the early morning and evening twilight to search for food.

What does a Vietnamese sika deer look like?

The Vietnamese sika deer has a reddish-brown, glossy coat with light dots in the summer months. This spotting pattern makes the Sika deer less noticeable among dense vegetation. This is because when the sun shines through the trees, the leaves in the trees create a pattern with all the dots on the ground. Thus, the sika deer's fur is the perfect camouflage! In winter, the fur changes color and becomes a grayish color without dots. The fur is then much denser than in summer and consists of hairs between five and seven inches long.

The Vietnamese sika deer has a shoulder height between 64 and 109 centimeters, and males are a bit larger than females. Another difference between males and females is the antlers. Only the males get antlers. These are quite small and have only eight to 10 tips. The antlers only have a length between thirty and 66 centimeters long.

Another characteristic of the Vietnamese sika deer is the white fold of skin on its butt. In this lies a thick tuft of hair, and when the animals flee, this fold fold folds outward. This allows them to see and follow each other well. In fact, it's sort of their own little flag!

Ranger Stijn takes you to the Vietnamese sika deer in Safaripark Beekse Bergen in this Safari Report.

Nutrition Vietnamese sika deer

The Vietnamese sika deer is a true herbivore. This means that he eats only plant foods. Its menu includes grasses, leaves, shrubs, herbs, flowers and fruits. They can easily adapt to the conditions in an area and eat whatever is available at the time. Vietnamese sika deer are mostly active at dawn and dusk in search of food.

Is the Vietnamese sika deer endangered?

The Vietnamese sika deer is very rare in the wild. Due to habitat disappearance, hunting of these animals and the Vietnam War that lasted from 1955 to 1978, many sika deer died. The animals still live in Vietnam in a reserve. Fortunately, the number of these deer has increased significantly and the species has "safe" status.

The role of zoos is to preserve and protect of animal species. European parks work closely with each other to achieve this goal and do so with an management program (EEP). The Vietnamese sika deer is also part of this. Vietnam contributes to this by selecting males for the EEP in exchange for money to properly protect the remaining animals in Vietnam. Learn more about species conservation and our role in it here.

Conservation

Fortunately, the status of the Vietnamese sika deer is safe. But unfortunately, many of the species you see in our park are endangered and struggling in their native habitats. Did you know that worldwide more than 4,000 animal species are in danger of extinction are endangered? Together we can help them, with big, or small steps. Want to know how? Then click here.

How does a Vietnamese sika deer live?

The Vietnamese sika deer does not really live in herds. Males and females live separately from each other for most of the year. Males often live alone or in small groups with other males. When mating season arrives, in the summer the males mark out their territory. They defend this from other males and gather about a dozen females. Thus, small groups are formed with one male and his females. When the females have given birth to their young, the small groups join together up to 120 animals. Later, this group breaks up again and the animals live separately again.

Reproduction of the Vietnamese sika deer

Mating season in the Vietnamese sika deer takes place in the fall from July to October. The females are lured to his territory by the male. He does this by marking his territory with scent or by scraping their antlers along trees and bushes. Once the females enter his territory, the male has the opportunity to go and decorate the females in order to mate with them.

A Vietnamese sika deer cub

After a gestation period of about seven to eight months, a young is born. The young of a Vietnamese sika deer is called a calf. The calf is born in a sheltered place and weighs between 4.5 and seven pounds at birth. The calf drinks with its mother for about 10 months and is cared for for a year. After this he is independent, and when the calf is a year and a half old, they can have young of their own.

Did you know

Sika deer are secretly very good swimmers? They can swim as much as twelve kilometers at a time.

Sika is actually Japanese for deer? You would then actually say Vietnamese deer deer.

Can't wait to see the Vietnamese sika deer in real life? Then order your tickets online immediately and visit the sika deer at Safaripark Beekse Bergen.