The sika deer is a rare wild animal and is known as the king of the forest. Known for its beautiful appearance and gentle personality. Next, let's walk into the life of sika deer and learn about their growth, reproduction, and survival journey.
The life of a sika deer begins at the moment when the doe conceives. Doe usually conceives in the spring, and the gestation period is about eight months or so. When the baby deer is about to give birth, the female deer will find a safe and hidden place to avoid being discovered by predators.
At this time, the doe needs to be especially careful, because she not only has to take care of her own life, but also the soon-to-be-born fawn.
When fawns are born, they are covered in a soft brown undercoat instead of the famous silver-white markings of adult sika deer. This is to help the deer better conceal themselves in the grass to avoid being spotted by predators.
In the first few hours after birth, the fawns will stand up and sniff around, trying to find the udder of the doe and begin to suckle. The doe will use her body to protect the fawns to ensure their safety.
As time goes by, the fawn gradually grows up. They will follow the doe to learn how to find food and water sources and learn to adapt to various environments in the forest.
The food of deer is mainly young leaves, herbs, and bark, and they will use their agility and strong chewing power to obtain the nutrients they need. During this process, fawns will also learn to get along with their companions and form small groups to increase each other's sense of security.
As fawns grow up, their bodies change. Their markings begin to become more defined and their coats become softer and smoother.
Generally speaking, sika deer are relatively petite, with a shoulder height of 60 to 80 centimeters and a weight of 30 to 50 kilograms. Nonetheless, their graceful and responsive gait makes them effortless to navigate the forest.
Adult sika deer usually enter the breeding season in autumn. At this time, male sika deer will show their majesty and strength, and compete for the right to be a spouse through horn fighting.
Horn fighting is a competitive behavior between male sika deer, where they use their horns to show their superiority against each other. The winner of the horn fight will have the opportunity to mate with a doe.
After successful mating, the doe becomes pregnant and goes through another eight-month gestation period. During this time, the doe needs to take special care of herself, as she not only has to protect herself but also provides the best possible environment for her upcoming offspring.
After the gestation period is over, the doe will find a safe place again, ready for a new life.
The life of a sika deer is full of challenges and miracles. They need to face various threats in the forest, such as hunting by hunters and destruction of habitat.
At the same time, they are also an integral part of the ecosystem, maintaining the ecological balance of the forest through pollination and seed dispersal. We should protect and cherish sika deer, protect their habitat, and allow them to thrive in nature safely.
In short, sika deer are rarely wild animals, and their life is full of beauty and challenges. From birth to growth, from reproduction to survival, each stage requires effort and adaptation to the environment.
Let us take care of these lovely animals, work together to protect their homes, and let the sika deer bloom in nature.