• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• 제37권1호
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• pp.70-75
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• 2023

This study was conducted from October 2021 to October 2022 at Gulup island, Incheon, South Korea, to identify activity patterns of Formosan sika deer (Cervus nippon taiouanus) introduced in island areas, using camera trapping. We described the daily activity patterns of Formosan sika deer in each season by analyzing kernel density estimates of capture frequency and checked seasonal differences in daily activity patterns by analyzing the overlap coefficient between seasons. Formosan sika deers introduced to Gulup island showed a crepuscular behavior pattern only in winter and no distinct pattern from spring to fall. The crepuscular behavior pattern is typical for deers to reduce the risk of predation, and it is determined that Formosan sika deers introduced to Gulup island were affected by population control of the species by the local government in the winter. It was in contrast to the fact that human activities, such as backpacking, frequently carried out from spring to fall, did not affect the behavior of Formosan sika deers. Moreover, low winter temperatures have been shown to affect the nocturnal activities of Formosan sika deers in winter. The behavior patterns of Formosan sika deers overlapped least between summer and winter due to cold winter weather and population control. The relationship between the temporal status of Formosan sika deers and seasonal temperature confirmed in this study can be important basic ecological data for establishing control measures of Formosan sika deers introduced not only in islands but also in inland.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• 제52권3호
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• pp.237-244
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• 2010

In order to investigate the physiological properties of velvet antler of elk (Cervus e. canadensis) raised in Korea, antlers (n=378) were collected from deer in 8 provinces including Gyeonggi-do (n=53), Gangwon-do (n=49), Chungcheongbuk-do (n=62), Chungcheongnam-do (n=68), Jeollabuk-do (n=52), Jeollanam-do (n=15), Gyeongsangbuk-do (n=30) and Gyeongsangnam-do (n=49). The exterior characteristics (weight, length, girth and crown) of all antlers were measured, and 18 antler samples were randomly selected for measurement of interior characteristics such as specific gravity, capacity and diameter of cross section. The mean antler weight, length of the main beam and mean length of upper section were $4.87{\pm}1.79\;kg$, $83.7{\pm}13.2\;cm$ and $40.6{\pm}11.4\;cm$, respectively. Mean girth of the top, middle and base of the main beam were $27.1{\pm}5.9\;cm$, $22.1{\pm}3.6\;cm$ and $22.9{\pm}3.6\;cm$ respectively, indicating a slight narrowing in the middle of the antler. In each of the tines, the girth at the base was markedly thicker compared to the top. The depth of the crown at the top of the antler, and the average number of crowns and tines were $14.1{\pm}7.0\;cm$, $2.1{\pm}0.6$ and $3.0{\pm}0.5$, respectively. Although there was no significant difference in mean specific gravity between top and base, mean specific gravity of main beam tended to increase from top to base of the antler with decreasing capacity. Additionally, the inner diameter of the base of the antler was significantly reduced compared to that of the top, indicating a greater integumental thickening due to mineralization. Information on the morphological and physiological properties of elk antlers is scarce. Therefore, these results may be useful in providing basic information for the physiological properties of antler, and encourage further studies on antler morphology in other deer species showing species specific differences.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• 제50권2호
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• pp.151-154
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• 2010

A thirty-five week old elk was referred for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) confirmation from Chungnam province in Korea. Necropsy revealed much bloody contents in the lumen of small and large intestines, and reddening of its mucosa. Microscopically, few coccidia showing various developmental stages were infiltrated in lamina propria of small intestine with granulomatous inflammation and congestion. They were identified as Eimeria spp. according to their location and morphological characteristics. Because fecal examination and oocyst culture were not available, the species of the Eimeria could not be confirmed. There were no detection of pathogenic bacteria such as clostridia and virus in intestinal contents. CWD was shown to be negative in immunohistochemistry test. In conclusion, it was the first Eimeria case detected in small intestine of Korean domestic elk as far as we know although Eimeria spp. were not the main cause of death.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• 제37권6호
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• pp.429-438
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• 2023

The forest in the lower Tumen River serves as an important ecosystem spanning the territories of North Korea, Russia, and China, and it provides habitat and movement corridors for diverse mammals, including the endangered Amur tiger (Panthera tigris) and Amur leopard (Panthera pardus). This study focuses on the Mijiang area, situated as a potential ecological corridor connecting North Korea and China in the lower Tumen River, playing a crucial role in conserving and restoring the biodiversity of the Korean Peninsula. This study aimed to identify mammal species and estimate their relative abundance, occupancy, and distribution based on the 48 camera traps installed in the Mijiang area from May 2019 to May 2021. The results confirmed the presence of 18 mammal species in the Mijiang area, including large carnivores like tigers and leopards. Among the dominant mammals, four species of ungulates showed high occupancy and detection rates, particularly the Roe deer (Capreolus pygargus) and Wild boar (Sus scrofa). The roe deer was distributed across all areas with a predicted high occupancy rate of 0.97, influenced by altitude, urban residential areas, and patch density. Wild boars showed a predicted occupancy rate of 0.73 and were distributed throughout the entire area, with factors such as wetland ratio, grazing intensity, and spatial heterogeneity in aspects of the landscape influencing their occupancy and detection rates. Sika deer (Cervus nippon) exhibited a predicted occupancy rate of 0.48, confined to specific areas, influenced by slope, habitat fragmentation diversity affecting detection rates, and the ratio of open forests impacting occupancy. Water deer (Hydropotes inermis) displayed a very low occupancy rate of 0.06 along the Tumen River Basin, with higher occupancy in lower altitude areas and increased detection in locations with high spatial heterogeneity in aspects. This study confirmed that the Mijiang area serves as a habitat supporting diverse mammals in the lower Tumen River while also playing a crucial role in facilitating animal movement and habitat connectivity. Additionally, the occupancy prediction model developed in this study is expected to contribute to predicting mammal distribution within the disrupted Tumen River basin due to human interference and identifying and protecting potential ecological corridors in this transboundary region.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제22권5호
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• pp.740-746
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• 2009

Rusa deer are the only viable commercial tropical deer species for farming in the tropics because of their hardiness, adaptability and prolific characteristics. Twelve entire rusa stags were slaughtered according to halal procedure and used for carcass evaluation and cutability studies. Three carcass categories; large (46 to 55 kg), medium (36 to 45 kg) and small (25 to 35 kg) were developed for rusa stags. This study indicated that entire Moluccan rusa deer stags with mean live weight ranges from 50 to 80 kg and age groups of 15 to 29 months showed dressing percentage of 58 to 62%. Carcass conformation of rusa stags showed significantly (p<0.05) higher forequarters portion than hindquarters for medium (mean weight, 40.8 kg) and large (mean weight, 50.0 kg) carcass categories. The large carcass category was significantly (p<0.05) bigger in hindquarters portion (47.3% vs. 45.4%) than the medium carcass category. This study showed that medium and large carcass categories are more suitable for boneless cuts since the muscles were larger than small carcasses and easy for deboning. Stag carcasses showed higher proportion of the musculature in the high-priced areas of the carcass such as in round cuts. Bone-in cuts are more suitable for small carcasses since the muscles were smaller and difficult to debone (mean weight, 30.5 kg). About 90% of total deer carcasses in the small carcass category were developed into retail bone-in cuts (excluding 9.9% of breast, shank and trimming). The carcass characteristics and cutability information derived from this study can be used as a basis for a venison marketing strategy for deer farming and production in the tropics.