Pere David's Deer Buck
by Sharon McConnell
Title
Pere David's Deer Buck
Artist
Sharon McConnell
Medium
Photograph - Digital Art, Photography
Description
This large buck is a Pere David's deer, photographed at The Wilds, in Cumberland, Ohio, USA, a nature preserve.
The Père David's deer (Elaphurus davidianus), also known as the milu or elaphure, is a species of deer that are mostly found in captivity. This semiaquatic animal prefers marshland, and is native to the subtropics of China. It grazes mainly on grass and aquatic plants.
According to fossil records, the species first appeared during the Pleistocene period, when it could be found anywhere in the Manchuria. In the late 19th century, the world's only herd belonged to Tongzhi, the Emperor of China. By 1939, the last of the wild species were shot and killed. A few of the deer had previously been illegally transported to Europe for exhibition and breeding. After the extirpation of the Chinese population in 1900, Herbrand Russell, 11th Duke of Bedford, was instrumental in saving the species. He acquired the few remaining animals from European zoos and nurtured a herd at Woburn Abbey. Threatened again by both World Wars, the species survived largely due to the efforts of Bedford and his son Hastings, later 12th Duke of Bedford. The current world population, now found in zoos and preserves around the world, stems from the Woburn Abbey herd. The Père David’s deer survives only because a few animals had been sent to the captive programs in Europe.
The adult Père David's deer reaches a head-and-body length of up to 1.9–2.2 meters (6.2–7.2 ft) and stands about 1.2 meters (3.9 ft) tall at the shoulder. Weight is between 135 and 200 kilograms (298 and 441 lb). The head is long and slender with large eyes, a naked nose pad and small, pointed ears. The branched antlers are unique in that the long tines point backward, while the main beam extends almost directly upward.
This species is listed as Extinct in the Wild. The captive population in China has increased in recent years, and the possibility remains that free-ranging populations can be established some time in the near future. When that happens, its Red List status will need to be reassessed.
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Copyright 2017: Photograph artwork by Sharon McConnell; all rights reserved.
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Uploaded
May 26th, 2018
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