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1. Profile (Picture)
2. Tidbits
3. Status and Trends (IUCN Status, Countries Where
Currently Found, Population Estimates, History of Distribution, Threats and Reasons
for Decline)
4. Data on Biology and Ecology (Size, Habitat, Gestation Period, Birth
Season, Diet, Behavior, Social
Organization)
5. References
Pictures: Calamian Deer #1 and Calamian Deer #2 (Huffman 2004)
Hog deer are heavy-set and compact, standing only about 28" high at the shoulder.
They are generally found in riverine habitats, marshes and swamps with tall grasses. Axis
deer are predominantly grazers, though they
occasionally browse and will eat fallen flowers and
fruits of forest trees. Where they are undisturbed they may form small herds; elsewhere
they are mainly solitary. Axis deer normally rest during the hotter part of the day
and move about at dawn and dusk. They may become nocturnal
in the summer, or when molested by people.
The Calamian deer is known only from the Calamian Islands, which are located off the
northern tip of Palawan, itself the westernmost island of the Philippines. In the 1940's it was to be found in
surprisingly large numbers in all suitable localities throughout the islands of Busuanga
and Culion, where most of the deer have always occurred. By the 1970's, a significant
reduction in numbers had apparently occurred, and local populations had everywhere reached
"dangerously low levels, with the possible exception of the extreme south of
Culion." (Grimwood 1976)
Hunting for food has been the major cause of decline.
*** The name "hog deer" arises from its habit of crashing through the undergrowth with its head down like a wild pig, rather than leaping over obstacles like other deer.
*** Axis deer in general take readily to water and are said to be good swimmers.
*** There are no large predators on the Calamian Islands, other than man.
*** Forest clearance for settlement can actually increase the extent of the Calamian deer's natural habitat, since it prefers grassland and open forest to densely forested areas.
2004: Occurs in the Philippines (Calamian Islands) (IUCN 2004).
[Note: Figures given are for wild populations only.]
The Calamian deer is known only from the Calamian Islands, which are located off the northern tip of Palawan, itself the westernmost island of the Philippines. In the 1940's it was to be found in surprisingly large numbers in all suitable localities throughout the islands of Busuanga and Culion, where most of the deer have always occurred. By the 1970's, a significant reduction in numbers had apparently occurred, and local populations had everywhere reached "dangerously low levels, with the possible exception of the extreme south of Culion." (Grimwood 1976)
Distribution Map (10 Kb GIF) (Huffman 2004)
Hunting for food has been the major cause of decline.
Hog deer stand only about 28" high at the shoulder.
Hog deer are generally found in riverine habitats, marshes and swamps with tall grass.
The Calamian deer lives in the Philippines Biodiversity Hotspot (Cons. Intl. 2005).
Hog deer have a gestation period of 8 months.
April and May.
Axis deer are predominantly grazers, though they occasionally browse and will eat fallen flowers and fruits of forest trees.
Axis deer normally rest during the hotter part of the day and move about at dawn and dusk. They may become nocturnal in the summer, or when molested by people.
Where they are undisturbed they form small herds; otherwise they are mainly solitary.
Burton & Pearson 1987, Cons. Intl. 2005, Grimwood 1976, Huffman 2004, IUCN 1994, IUCN 1996, IUCN 2000, IUCN 2003a, IUCN 2004, Nowak & Paradiso 1983, Schaller 1967
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By: Paul Massicot; Last modified: March 5, 2005; © 1999 -
2005 Animal Info
