The Taiwan Sambar Deer

The Taiwan Sambar deer (Cervus unicolor swinhoei) is a native Asian species inhabiting old growth forests above 1500 meters elevation and found in considerable numbers in the Huatung Mountains and the Central Mountain Range. They can frequently be seen on grassy slopes and muddy ground located next to the forests/in forested areas. The Sambar deer is the largest herbivore native to Taiwan. (The Taiwan water buffalo is a non-native species.)

A Sambar stag may reach 120 centimeters at the shoulder and weigh 300 kilograms, while the doe is somewhat smaller, about 80 centimeters at the shoulder. The summer coat of the Sambar is a light yellowish brown. The winter coat is black-brown affording some protective coloring.

The Sambar has a gland on the underside of the eye that swells when the animal is angry or excited. Sometimes it mixes its own urine with secretions from this gland and spreads it on the ground to mark its territory.

By the age of five, the Sambar has grown a fully formed pair of three-point, two-branch antlers that continue to grow in thickness and in length. These antlers, which can grow to a length of 50 centimeters, are used by the Sambar for display and as weapons for fighting. The Sambar doe does not grow antlers at all and can become pregnant at three years.

Four hundred years ago the deer was a dominant species on Taiwan and could be seen all over the island. When the Dutch came to Taiwan, they hunted the animals in great number and exported their skins. Together with the expansion of the Chinese population throughout the island this has resulted in the near extinction of the Formosan Sika deer and the small numbers of the rarely seen Sambar deer, both of which are now valuable rare protected species.