The sika deer, which had once disappeared from the wild, has thrived through the conservation efforts of Kenting National Park for 29 years and has now multiplied to nearly 2,000 individuals.
At the end of last month, a fawn was found in Hengchun Township which was initially suspected to be a lost wild deer. Later, a woman posted a search plea online, and the police informed her to retrieve it. The Kenting National Park Management Office stated that although the sika deer is legally classified as livestock, and keeping them as pets is legal, they require a larger space for movement and carry a risk of infectious diseases, so it is not recommended to keep them as pets.
The Renshou Police Substation of Hengchun Police Precinct in Pingtung received a report at the end of last month about a lost fawn.
When the police arrived at the scene, they found the fawn in a state of distress, shivering by the roadside. Concerned for the fawn’s well-being, they contacted the “Deerland Formosan Sika Deer Ecological Park” in Hengchun Town for assistance.
After a thorough check, the park staff confirmed that no fawn had gone missing from their park. Worried that the fawn might be suffering from cold, they requested “Deerland” to temporarily shelter the fawn. Upon further examination, it was determined that the young male deer was approximately 3 to 4 months old.
Renshou village 仁壽里 in Hengchun Township
Later, the police discovered that a woman surnamed Fang from Hengchun Town had posted a missing fawn notice on a local Facebook community. She mentioned that the fawn she had been raising at home had managed to break free from its tether and had gone missing.
The police immediately contacted the woman, the owner of the missing fawn, and returned it to her. The owner explained that she had fallen in love with the incredibly cute appearance of the sika deer and had purchased the fawn from a private deer farm a month ago to keep as a pet. It provided her with a soothing sense of comfort.
Unfortunately, the fawn had escaped its tether due to a momentary lapse, but thankfully, it was successfully located and returned.
Pingtung County Police Bureau – Renshou Village Precinct
The Conservation Research Section of the Kending National Park Management Office stated that the Formosan sika deer in Taiwan is not classified as a protected wild animal under the Wildlife Conservation Act.
It is legally considered domestic livestock. Purchasing them as pets from private deer farms is not illegal.
These farms, however, are regulated by the Animal Husbandry Act, requiring them to regularly report the health status of the deer and undergo tuberculosis testing.
The Conservation Research Section explained that deer are herbivorous animals and can be fed with any juicy fodder. However, they require ample space for movement and pose a risk of transmitting diseases like tuberculosis. Therefore, it is not advisable to keep them as household pets.