Père David’s deer | Zoo Aquarium Madrid

Meet the Père David’s deer!

In 1864 the missionary and naturalist Pére Armand David discovered this deer in the Royal Hunting Garden of Nanyuan, a species unknown until then to the West. Due to a great flood, the Boxer Rebellion and hunting, this species became extinct in the wild.

Fortunately Peré Armand David had taken specimens to private collections in the United Kingdom, Belgium, France and Germany, allowing the survival of the species. This is a clear example of the important conservation work of zoos.

What are its habits?

Father David's deer is a gregarious species. During the rutting season, it forms harems and the males are very territorial. Females give birth to one calf, rarely two.

The antlers that only the males possess have a very curious shape compared to the rest of the deer, they seem to be placed upside down and with the tips backwards.

Conservation

Extinct

Extinct in the wild

Critically endangered

Endangered

Vulnerable

Near threatened

Least concern

Insufficient data

Not evaluated