The Formosan sika deer (Chinese: 台灣梅花鹿; pinyin: Táiwān méihuālù; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Tâi-oân hoe-lo̍k) (Cervus nippon taiouanus) is a subspecies of sika deerendemic to the island of Taiwan. Formosan sika, like most of the terrestrial fauna and flora of Taiwan, arrived on the island during Pleistocene glacial periods when lower sea levels connected Taiwan to the Asian mainland.
Sika stand 90–120 cm at the shoulder, 155 cm in length, 43 - 68 kg in weight.[1] Males are larger and bear deciduous antlers. The summer coat is light brownish, with obvious white spots, while in winter their coat is darker and the spots fade.
Formosan sika deer at Kenting National ParkCaptive-bred specimen
Range and habitatedit
The natural distribution of sika on Taiwan was in the woodlands from sea level up to about 300 meters elevation. Sika, like many deer, prefer areas of mixed forest, scrub, and open land. Under natural conditions the low-lying alluvial plain that stretches from present-day Taipei along the west coast almost to the southern tip of the island were prime deer habitat and natural populations would have been quite dense.
Statusedit
Sika populations in Taiwan have been heavily influenced by human activity for the past four hundred years. Until the early 17th century the human population of Taiwan was low and comprised mostly Austronesian peoples who had been living on the island for thousands of years. During the 17th century immigration from the Chinese mainland increased dramatically in response to political instability in China and economic opportunities on Taiwan, which from 1624 until 1662 was controlled by the Dutch East India Company (VOC). The VOC, operating from the port of Taoyuan (modern-day Anping, Tainan) in southwestern Taiwan, established a trading post whose main business was the export of sika skins to neighboring Asia. During the six decades of Dutch activity two to four million sika skins were exported to China and Japan.[2][3] Exporting was reduced when the Dutch were forced out of Taiwan in 1662, but continued throughout the Qing period with a switch to Japan as the major export market.[4]
The intensive hunting of sika during the Dutch era must have severely decreased the population of sika. Sika populations continued to decline over the next few centuries as the human population expanded—the natural habitat of sika in the lowland plains was steadily converted to farmland, and later urbanized, as the human population increased. Hunting also continued. As a result, wild sika populations decreased steadily, and in 1969 the last known wild sika was killed.[5]
However, deer are easily kept in captivity and there were a number of captive populations of C. n. taiouanus. In 1984 Taiwan’s Council of Agriculture funded the Sika Deer Reintroduction Project, based at Kenting National Park on the southern tip of the island. Twenty-two deer were transferred from the Taipei Zoo to serve as a founder population. Over the next 10 years the deer were maintained in enclosures until their eventual release into the National Park in 1994. Altogether over 200 deer have been released and the current population, now spread beyond the park borders, is estimated to exceed 1000 individuals.[6] Discussions regarding other possible reintroduction sites, including Yangmingshan National Park near Taipei, are ongoing. Daqiu Island, Beigan Township, Lienchiang County (the Matsu Islands) is known for its population of Formosan sika deer introduced in the 1990s.[7][8]
^Davidson, James W. (1903). The Island of Formosa, Past and Present : history, people, resources, and commercial prospects : tea, camphor, sugar, gold, coal, sulphur, economical plants, and other productions. London and New York: Macmillan & co. OL 6931635M.
^McCullough, D. R. 1974. Status of Larger Mammals in Taiwan. Taipei: Tourism Bureau
^墾丁社頂生態遊 梅花鹿見客 | 台灣環境資訊協會-環境資訊中心. E-info.org.tw (2010-06-30). Retrieved on 2012-08-23.
^"Daqiu". Matsu National Scenic Area. Retrieved 28 August 2019. In the past, it has been both home to civilians and a post for the military, but with the migration of the residential population and the pullout of the Armed Forces, Daqiu has become the largest uninhabited island in Mazu which may be visited. In recent years, with the restoration of the footpath around the island and the successful breeding of the Formosan sika deer(Cervus nippon taiouanus) has turned the island a deer-watching paradise; if you arrive on Daqiu early in the morning, there's a good chance you'll see the beautiful sika deer.
^"Matsu Island opens doors to tourists". Taiwan Today. 30 March 2010. Retrieved 28 August 2019. The Formosan sika deer that currently roam the deserted Daqiu Island are also noteworthy, Gu said, adding that his administration will soon build pavements that will enable tourists to get close to the deer.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cervus nippon taiouanus.
Formosan sika on Youtube, English version
Formosan sika on Youtube, Mandarin version
November 25, 2023
formosan, sika, deer, chinese, 台灣梅花鹿, pinyin, táiwān, méihuālù, tâi, oân, cervus, nippon, taiouanus, subspecies, sika, deer, endemic, island, taiwan, formosan, sika, like, most, terrestrial, fauna, flora, taiwan, arrived, island, during, pleistocene, glacial, . The Formosan sika deer Chinese 台灣梅花鹿 pinyin Taiwan meihualu Pe h ōe ji Tai oan hoe lo k Cervus nippon taiouanus is a subspecies of sika deer endemic to the island of Taiwan Formosan sika like most of the terrestrial fauna and flora of Taiwan arrived on the island during Pleistocene glacial periods when lower sea levels connected Taiwan to the Asian mainland Formosan sika deerFormosan sika deer on Daqiu IslandScientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass MammaliaOrder ArtiodactylaFamily CervidaeSubfamily CervinaeGenus CervusSpecies C nipponSubspecies C n taiouanusTrinomial nameCervus nippon taiouanusBlyth 1860 Contents 1 Appearance and behavior 2 Range and habitat 3 Status 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksAppearance and behavior editSika stand 90 120 cm at the shoulder 155 cm in length 43 68 kg in weight 1 Males are larger and bear deciduous antlers The summer coat is light brownish with obvious white spots while in winter their coat is darker and the spots fade nbsp Formosan sika deer at Kenting National Park nbsp Captive bred specimenRange and habitat editThe natural distribution of sika on Taiwan was in the woodlands from sea level up to about 300 meters elevation Sika like many deer prefer areas of mixed forest scrub and open land Under natural conditions the low lying alluvial plain that stretches from present day Taipei along the west coast almost to the southern tip of the island were prime deer habitat and natural populations would have been quite dense Status editSika populations in Taiwan have been heavily influenced by human activity for the past four hundred years Until the early 17th century the human population of Taiwan was low and comprised mostly Austronesian peoples who had been living on the island for thousands of years During the 17th century immigration from the Chinese mainland increased dramatically in response to political instability in China and economic opportunities on Taiwan which from 1624 until 1662 was controlled by the Dutch East India Company VOC The VOC operating from the port of Taoyuan modern day Anping Tainan in southwestern Taiwan established a trading post whose main business was the export of sika skins to neighboring Asia During the six decades of Dutch activity two to four million sika skins were exported to China and Japan 2 3 Exporting was reduced when the Dutch were forced out of Taiwan in 1662 but continued throughout the Qing period with a switch to Japan as the major export market 4 The intensive hunting of sika during the Dutch era must have severely decreased the population of sika Sika populations continued to decline over the next few centuries as the human population expanded the natural habitat of sika in the lowland plains was steadily converted to farmland and later urbanized as the human population increased Hunting also continued As a result wild sika populations decreased steadily and in 1969 the last known wild sika was killed 5 However deer are easily kept in captivity and there were a number of captive populations of C n taiouanus In 1984 Taiwan s Council of Agriculture funded the Sika Deer Reintroduction Project based at Kenting National Park on the southern tip of the island Twenty two deer were transferred from the Taipei Zoo to serve as a founder population Over the next 10 years the deer were maintained in enclosures until their eventual release into the National Park in 1994 Altogether over 200 deer have been released and the current population now spread beyond the park borders is estimated to exceed 1000 individuals 6 Discussions regarding other possible reintroduction sites including Yangmingshan National Park near Taipei are ongoing Daqiu Island Beigan Township Lienchiang County the Matsu Islands is known for its population of Formosan sika deer introduced in the 1990s 7 8 See also editList of endemic species of TaiwanReferences edit The Plight of the Formosan Sika Deer 江樹生 1985 梅花鹿與台灣早期歷史關係之研究 第3 62頁 台灣梅花鹿復育之研究七十四年度報告 內政部營建署墾丁國家公園管理處 Davidson James W 1903 The Island of Formosa Past and Present history people resources and commercial prospects tea camphor sugar gold coal sulphur economical plants and other productions London and New York Macmillan amp co OL 6931635M The Plight of the Formosan Sika wildatheart org tw McCullough D R 1974 Status of Larger Mammals in Taiwan Taipei Tourism Bureau 墾丁社頂生態遊 梅花鹿見客 台灣環境資訊協會 環境資訊中心 E info org tw 2010 06 30 Retrieved on 2012 08 23 Daqiu Matsu National Scenic Area Retrieved 28 August 2019 In the past it has been both home to civilians and a post for the military but with the migration of the residential population and the pullout of the Armed Forces Daqiu has become the largest uninhabited island in Mazu which may be visited In recent years with the restoration of the footpath around the island and the successful breeding of the Formosan sika deer Cervus nippon taiouanus has turned the island a deer watching paradise if you arrive on Daqiu early in the morning there s a good chance you ll see the beautiful sika deer Matsu Island opens doors to tourists Taiwan Today 30 March 2010 Retrieved 28 August 2019 The Formosan sika deer that currently roam the deserted Daqiu Island are also noteworthy Gu said adding that his administration will soon build pavements that will enable tourists to get close to the deer External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cervus nippon taiouanus Formosan sika on Youtube English version Formosan sika on Youtube Mandarin version Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Formosan sika deer amp oldid 1077156632, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
