Eld's deer. A new population of a rare Asian deer thought to be on the brink of extinction in
Laos has been discovered in unexplored tracts of the country's forests.

Until now, scientists thought there were perhaps as few as ten Eld's deer remaining in Laos.
The new population, found in Savahnakhet province, may number more than 50 animals.

Eld's deer has already vanished from neighboring Thailand and Cambodia. Wildlife biologists
estimate there may be no more than 3,000 individuals left, living primarily in Myanmar and India.

"Habitat still remains in Laos, but a rapid decline in the population was observed in the 1940s."
"By the 1980s villagers reported that the deer had disappeared from most of its range." Eld's
deer (Cervus eldi) are known for their unusual bow-or lyre-shaped antlers, which sweep back in
a single curve.
The Pere David's Deer originally came from northeastern and east-central China.

This breed was considered extinct in the wild at least 1000 years ago. It managed
to survive in parks and in the 1800's, a French missionary and naturalist, Father
("Pere" in French) David, observed the animals in the one remaining Chinese herd.
Interest in these animals resulted in a number of them being sent to Europe. The
remaining deer in China ultimately died out in the early 1900's, mostly due to floods
and the Boxer Rebellion. As a result, all surviving animals descend from the deer
sent to Europe. In the late 1980's, a certain number of deer were re-introduced to
the wild in China's Dafeng reserve where they have successfully reproduced.

The Pere David's deer's original habitat is thought to have been swampy, reed-
covered marshlands. Unlike most deer, they like water and swim well. They are
a grazer, eating mainly grass which it supplements with water plants in the
summer. Hunting is thought to have been the main reason for the original decline
of the wild Pere David's deer.

The Pere David's deer weighs approximately 330 - 440 lbs.
Previous
Rare, Extinct Menu
Next
Main Menu