The Kerama deer (also Kerama Sika) is an endangered subspecies of the Sika deer native to the Kerama Islands.[1]

History

Kerama deer were imported from the Kagoshima Prefecture in the early 17th century. They were heavily hunted because they destroyed crops,[2] causing the population to rapidly decline, and are now a government-protected species. The total known population was 130 as of 1995.[3] They have been designated a Natural Monument of Japan.[4]

Description

Kerama deer have dark brown hair. Only the bucks have antlers, which are shed from March to April. They are small, weighing only about 75 kilograms.[2]

References

  1. ^ "Subspecies of sika deer. Table 1". researchgate.net. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Kerama Deer (Natural monument)". keramaislands.asia. June 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
  3. ^ "Nature in Akajima". amsl.or.jp. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
  4. ^ "Highlights of Keramashoto National Park". env.go.jp. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerama_deer
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