Aita David's ear (Elaphurus davidiamus)

2001/01/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Zoologia

No wild specimens of this unique deer III are known. and IV. from the centuries. The only known population at this time was the Haí-Dze Imperial Park in Beijing.

In 1866 the Emperor of Beijing gave the French embassy a few individuals, but they did not last long or the first to send to the European zoos. Finally, reproduction was achieved in Europe and in 1890 the Duke of Bedford released the offspring born in Europe in his fields of Woburn.

He only worried about showing isolated individuals in the zoos of Europe, in the conviction that they could be brought from China if necessary, but some misfortunes caused the disappearance of the local population, which as soon as he realized it was too late to form a breeding population in Europe species was considered missing.

However, the Woburn group grew and stabilized very well and thanks to this formation the species is still alive. Although there are no individuals living in freedom, in most European zoos small groups are exhibited.

At present in China there are plans for natural liberation, although it is not clear what is the original habitat of this species.