Go Philippines: Visayan Spotted Deer

The Visayan Spotted Deer (Cervus alfredi), also known as Philippine Spotted Deer, is categorized as endangered species of deer by IUCN. This kind of deer is nocturnal and can be found mostly in the rain forest of the Visayan Islands of Panay and Negros. The deer is vegetarian feeding on grasses, leaves, and buds. The decreased of its population in Visayan Islands is attributed to hunting and forest degradation

The Visayan Spotted Deer is a small, short legged species of deer, for adults size range from 125 to 130 cm long , 70 to 80cm height and weighing 25 to 80 kg. They have beige spots on their brown fur, more deep brown on back and sides compare to the neck. Males are larger than females and have short, thick, bumpy antlers. They breed from November to December, gestation period is about 240 days and weaning period is about six months.

At present, this endangered species of deer are found in protected habitats of Mt. Canlaon National Park, North Negros Forest Reserve, Mount Talinis/Lake Balinsasayao Reserve and West Panay Mountains. Some conservation program was also held locally and in Europian Zoos such as NFEFI (Negros Forests and Ecological Foundation Inc.) and CENTROP (Center for Tropical Studies), and successfully breeds this species of deer in captive.

Later on April 18, 2009, a group of Filipinos, British and Irishman discovered an estimated of 300 Visayan Spotted Deer in North Negros National Park.