Qimen Sika Deer

Qimen Sika Deer

　　The sika deer is a gentle and adorable animal. Adults are about 1.5 meters in length, with bare noses, distinct slit-like suborbital glands; large, upright ears, and males have antlers that can branch into four points when fully grown; they have short tails, slender long necks, thin and long limbs, and narrow, pointed hooves. In summer, they lack underfur and have brighter body colors, while in winter, their fur becomes thick and dense. They are beautifully formed, typically seen in groups of females and fawns. They are timid yet alert, move nimbly, and run swiftly.

　　The Qimen sika deer is a southern subspecies that prefers to inhabit mountainous areas dominated by tall herbaceous plants and generally does not enter forests. It differs slightly from other subspecies, mainly in terms of body color. The Qimen sika deer has a brownish coat tinged with bright yellowish-brown, with the black stripe on the center of the tail and the black stripe along the center of the back forming a continuous line. The white spots on either side of the back’s midline are relatively far apart and appear to connect into four vertical lines from front to back. The two lines on the back are close to each other, as are the two on the belly, which is light brown in color.

　　On the deep mountain meadows of Mount Guniujiang, sika deer step lightly, foraging leisurely and playing freely—it’s truly a beautiful scene of nature. (Excerpted from "Scenes and Features of Qimen")