Formosan sika deer

The sika deer, of which the Formosan sika deer is a larger subspecies, is found in the southeastern part of Asia. The natural distribution of the Formosan sika deer used to be plains and hills of low and medium elevation. However, over the past few centuries their population dwindled significantly with over-hunting and the destruction of their natural habitat. In 1984, the Kenting National Park launched a restoration program in the hope that Formosan sika deer will once again grace the fields and forests of Taiwan.
The Formosan sika deer has plum-blossom-like white spots on its back. The summer coat is light brown with visible white patches, with a black line running down the back. The deer’s antlers grow in a yearly cycle: the male starts to grow antlers at the age of two, and a new branch is developed every year until the stag turns five. The Formosan sika deer is docile, sensitive, and alert. It feeds mainly on tree leaves, plant shoots, and grass and often comes out to forage for food in the early morning and at sunset.