Where does the Père David's deer live?
Père David's deer, or milu, is native to the subtropical river valleys of China, where it lived in wetlands. It was hunted almost to extinction in China by the late 19th century, but a number had been taken to zoos in France and Germany, where the species bred successfully. In the early twentieth century, the Duke of Bedford built up a large herd on his estate at Woburn Abbey.
What does the Père David's deer eat?
It grazes mainly on grass and aquatic plants. It is the only extant member of its genus, and is genetically close to Eld's deer. Adults weigh 130 to 200 kg and stand 1.1 to 1.2 m at the shoulder. Gestation lasts nine months, with one or two fawns, which are adult at around 14 months. Stags begin to rut well before any signs of female sexual behaviour, to establish a social rank among themselves.
Is the Père David's deer endangered?
It is listed as Extinct in the Wild by the IUCN. In the 1980s, the duke's great-grandson donated several dozen deer to the Chinese government to reintroduce the species to the wild. In 2020, the wild population in China was estimated at 2,825 individuals, with a further 7,380 in various nature reserves in China.
