Are there tufted deer at Whipsnade Zoo?
Whipsnade is home to two female tufted deer, look out for them as you enter the Monkey Forest walkway by the Basecamp restaurant.
What does a tufted deer look like and how is it adapted to its habitat?
- Tufted deer get their name from a distinctive tuft of hair on the top of their head. They have a short, dense, ashy brown coat, and white markings on their face, tips of their ears and underside of their tail.
- Males have well-developed upper canine teeth that protrude from the upper lip. Males also carry antlers, the antlers are small spikes with the pedicles matching the length of the antler.
- Tufted deer are territorial leading a solitary life with males and females uniting in breeding season.
What do they eat?
Tufted deer are herbivorous grazers and browsers primarily feeding on leaves, twigs, fruits, and various types of vegetation.
What threats do they face in the wild?
Hunting is the tufted deer's main threat.