Sika Deer
| Latin Name | Cervus nippon |
|---|---|
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Cetartiodactyla |
| Family | Cervidae |
| IUCN status | Least concern |
| Habitat | Woodlands, forests, heaths, meadows, parkland etc |
| Distribution | Native to East Asia but introduced to many countries including UK |
General Information
It’s name comes from “shika” the Japanese word for deer.
A spotted deer which are more prominent in the summer coat. It’s pelage can range from nearly white to black.
Sika stag have stout upright antlers and the females have 2 distinctive black bumps on the forehead.
Our native red deer can mate with sika deer which is a serious conservation concern.
Fun Fact
In the 1900’s, King Edward VII gifted the Baron Montagu of Beaulieu a pair of Sika deer. It is some of their progeny that escaped and now populate the New Forest.
Keeper Notes
In the Deer Encounter, we have two Sika deer - both are hinds. Dandelion is our oldest deer at the Park, she was born in the Deer Encounter in 2000. Saffy joined us after being involved in a road traffic accident, in 2014, needing a permanent home.