Tufted Deer

Tufted deer eat leaves, twigs, fruits, and grasses.

At the Zoo, tufted deer are offered alfalfa hay, specially formulated herbivore pellets, browse, and fresh vegetables and fruits.

This species is found in central and southern China and northern Myanmar.

This species lives in forested areas and valleys high up in the mountains. They always make their homes close to water.

Predators likely include leopards and dholes.

Tufted deer are hunted for their meat and fur across their range. Although there isn't enough information available on how many are being hunted today, it is estimated that around 100,000 individuals were hunted each year in China during the 1970s and 1980s. The lack of regulation in hunting and the absence of research on how it affects the deer population may threaten these animals. Additionally, deforestation caused by agriculture and logging puts their homes at risk.

Tufted deer have dark brown bodies with light underbellies. Their coats are coarse with long fur, which give them a shaggy look. The head and neck are gray and have white markings on the tips of their ears. When a tufted deer runs, you can see the white underside of its tail as it lifts it up.

These deer are easily recognized by the tuft of long, blackish-brown fur on their foreheads. Male tufted deer have small antlers that usually do not stick out beyond this tuft. Both male and female tufted deer have large upper canine teeth, and the males have "tusks" that can be about an inch long. The males use these elongated canine teeth and antlers when competing for territory or mates.

Tufted deer mate during late fall and early winter. The young are born in early summer, and females usually have one or two fawns each year. For the first six months, the fawns rely on their mothers for food and protection. Tufted deer become sexually mature between the ages of eighteen months and two years.

Tufted deer make a sharp, barking sound when alarmed to warn others of danger. They also communicate through scent-marking and physical touch.

This deer is rarely seen and is most active during dawn and dusk. It usually likes to be alone but can sometimes be found in pairs. Male deer protect their territory from others by using their long canine teeth and antlers.