Manchurian sika

(cervus nippon hortulorum)

The Manchurian sika deer was formerly found in Manchuria (northeastern China), Korea, and the Russian Far East.  Today it is probably extinct in China and Korea, but about 9,000 individuals still live in the sparsely populated areas of Primorsky Krai in Russia. Manchurian sika deer is a smallish, but beautiful animal whose reddish skin features white spots. The bucks have thick, branched antlers which, in velvet stage, are highly prized as traditional Chinese medicine which is likely to be what led to the species’ extinction in China.

Gestation period:

220 – 230 days

Threats to species:

Loss of habitat due to hunting and Chinese use of antlers for medicine.