Philippine Spotted Deer

Habitat

The deer inhabits primary rainforest and areas of secondary growth, from sea level up to 1500 metres above sea level.

Wild Diet

Grasses, leaves and buds. These deer will visit naturally burnt forest clearings to lick the mineral-rich floral ash and browse on emerging shoots.

Behaviour

Being so rare, little is known about their behaviour, but it is clear that these deer are mainly nocturnal and will emerge as night falls in small, social groups.

Breeding

During mating season, males will spar in order to win the right to mate. After a gestation period of approximately 240 days, the female deer will give birth to a single calf who will be weaned by six months.

Threats

Philippine spotted deer are probably the most endangered deer in the world. This is partly due to habitat destruction, but illegal hunting is also a problem for this species. Only a few hundred animals are thought to remain in the wild.

Conservation

Despite receiving legal protection against poaching in the wild, Philippine spotted deer are still hunted as these protections are hard to patrol and enforce. European zoos are working on a captive breeding programme for the species, but their future in the wild looks uncertain.