Bukhara deer, Bokhara deer, Bactrian wapiti
The Bactrian deer (Cervus hanglu bactrianus ), also called the Bukhara deer, Bokhara deer, or Bactrian wapiti, is a lowland subspecies of Central Asian red deer native to Central Asia. It is similar in ecology to the related Yarkand deer (C. h. yarkandensis ) in occupying riparian corridors surrounded by deserts. The subspecies are separated from one another by the Tian Shan Mountains and probably form a primordial subgroup of the red deer.
Bactrian deer are usually ashy-gray in color with yellowish sheen and a grayish white rump patch. They also have a slightly marked dorsal stripe and a white margin of the upper lip, lower lip, and chin. Their antlers are light in color. These deer have short tails and do not have neck manes; males do have stronger and thicker neck muscles than females that may give the appearance of a neck mane. Females are slightly smaller than males. The calves are generally born spotted and most individuals lose their spots by adulthood. However, adult Bactrian deer may have a few spots on the backs of their summer coats. This phenomenon has also been observed in summer coats of their distant relatives Manchurian wapiti.
Bactrian deer are native to Central Asia. They are found in Russian Turkestan (West Turkestan) and adjacent areas in northern Afghanistan to the west of the Tian Shan Mountains. Bactrian deer live in lowland riparian corridors of mixed deciduous vegetation surrounded by deserts.
Little is known about the habits of Bactrian deer. They are social animals and associate in groups. These deer do not migrate but may disperse into adjacent desert areas at night or during the times when temperatures get cooler.
Bactrian deer are herbivores and feed on grasses, forbs, and different plants.
Little information is available regarding the mating system and reproductive behavior of Bactrian deer.
Bactrian deer are threatened due to extensive human activities. They suffer from habitat loss, hunting, pet trade, and other activities. These deer currently need urgent conservation. Aside from human, the wolf is probably the most dangerous predator that most Central Asian red deer encounter. Other predators include Brown bears, dholes, and Snow leopards. Eurasian lynx and Wild boars sometimes prey on the fawns.
According to Wikipedia, the total population size of Bactrian deer is 1,430 individuals. There are estimated populations of the species in the following areas: in Karatchingil Nature Reserve, Kazakhstan - 320-350 individuals; in Badai Tugai Nature Reserve, Uzbekistan - 374 individuals; in Tigrovaya Balka Nature Reserve, Tajikistan - more than 150 individuals.
