about the Père David

 Père David's deer were hunted almost to extinction in their native China by the late 19th century, but a number were taken to zoos in France and Germany and the deer were bred successfully in captivity. In the early 20th century, the British nobleman and politician Hearbrand Russell,the 11th Duke of Beadford aquired a few Père David's deer from the Berlin Zoo and built up a large herd on his estate. In the 1980s, the duke's great grandson donated several dozen deer to the Chinese government for reintroducing the species to the wild. As of 2020, the wild population in China was an estimated 2825 individuals, with a further 7380 in various nature reserves in China. All Père David's deer alive today descend from Herbrand Russell's original herd. 

 Long wavy guard hairs are present on and coat throughout the year, with the coat becoming woolier in winter. There is a mane on the neck and throat and a black dorsal stripe running along the cervicothoracic spine. A semiaquatic animal, Père Davids deer swims well, spending long periods standing in water up to its shoulders.