Sika deer
Cervus nippon
Did you know ... that the wild sika deer in the canton of Schaffhausen are escapees? Sika deer originated in East Asia but were introduced as ornamental animals in Germany and other countries in the 19th century. Wild herds have formed from escaped and released enclosure animals and have managed to survive.
Family
Cervidae
Distribution
The only wild sika deer in Switzerland live in the canton of Schaffhausen.
Lifestyle
Sika deer live in small herds. The males form loose herds and become solitary after shedding their antlers.
Reproduction
As a tropical species, the Vietnam sika deer does not have a mating season that is adapted to the seasons. In Switzerland, however, they mate in the summer. Their mating calls are high and shrill.
Diet
Sika deer graze herbs, leaves and buds and also peel the bark off young trees.
Senses
Their preferred habitat means that they have a particularly acute sense of smell and hearing. Sika deer can be extremely curious.
The sika deer in Langenberg
Since 1984. The pure subspecies Vietnam Sika deer has been living in Langenberg since 1990. They are extinct in the wild. The Wildnispark Zurich and its animals participate in the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP) in order to ensure the survival of the species until suitable areas and conditions again become available in its home country.
