Père David's Deer
Elaphurus davidianus
A water-loving Chinese deer that disappeared from the wild long ago and survived only in captive herds.
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About the Père David's Deer
Père David's deer probably lived in swampy lowlands and reed marshes of China. They have reddish-brown summer coats, grayish-brown winter coats and a long tail with a dark tassel. Males weigh about 470 pounds and grow antlers that they shed every winter. Unlike many deer, they love water and will wade up to their shoulders and swim. They eat mostly grasses and water plants.[1]
Quick facts
- Scientific name
- Elaphurus davidianus[1]
- Size
- About 6 to 7 feet long, plus a long tail.[1]
- Weight
- Males about 470 pounds; females about 350 pounds.[1]
- Lifespan
- About 18 years.[1]
- Diet
- Herbivore. Mostly grasses, plus water plants in summer.[1]
- Habitat
- Lowland swamps and reed marshes.[1]
- Where it lives
- Originally northeastern and east-central China; now parks and zoos.[1]
- Group life
- Social herds.[1]
- Conservation status
- Extinct in the Wild (IUCN Red List, assessed 2016).[2]
Fun facts
Vocabulary
- antler
- A bony branch that grows on a deer's head and falls off each year.
- extinct in the wild
- Living only in zoos or parks, with none left in the wild.
- rut
- The mating season of deer.
- marsh
- Wet, low land covered with grasses and reeds.
- herbivore
- An animal that eats only plants.
See it in person
- Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and AquariumOmaha, Nebraska · Asian HighlandsSee this area on the zoo's website ↗
These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.
Sources
- [1] Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan. “Père David's deer (Elaphurus davidianus).” https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Elaphurus_davidianus/ (accessed 2026-10-02)
- [2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Elaphurus davidianus (Père David's Deer).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/7121/22159785 (accessed 2026-10-02)
Facts last checked 2026-10-02.
