Vietnamese Sika Deer

The Vietnamese sika deer is a subspecies of the sika deer. These animals are polygamous: one male is capable of gathering up to 12 females on his territory during the breeding season. They are also highly expressive vocally, with a repertoire of 10 distinct sounds, ranging from gentle whistles and bleats reminiscent of a goat, to impressive whinnies and roars comparable to those of a fawn.

The Vietnamese sika deer, once found in the north of the country, now survives in only a small wild population. Intensive hunting has led to its virtual disappearance, bringing this subspecies to the brink of extinction. Fortunately, the Vietnamese sika deer is well represented in captivity, enabling reintroduction programs to be launched in two Vietnamese national parks.