A Shy But Common Native
The Muntjac
You might see a muntjac on your next hike, but then again you might only hear it fleeing. Common and widespread in Hong Kong, these little creatures are alert and make fast getaways. At least that's what we've read….
Sai Kunger Tina Stephenson was surprised to see a muntjac twice off Sai Sha Road on the way to Yung Shue Au. One, a female with tufts of bristly hair sticking up where horns would be on a male, walked alongside the road on "her spindly little legs" before calmly crossing the road in front of Tina. "I remember thinking that she was really taking her time for such a delicate shy little creature," Tina said. Her second encounter was with a male, about 60 cm tall and darker than the female; he crossed in front of her and darted away with tail elevated and white rump showing.
Muntjacs have also been spotted on the Cheung Sheung Trail (Jacob's Ladder) above Yung Shue Au as well as other areas of the country parks and New Territories.
The muntjac is the oldest of all known deer and is native to the Southeast Asia region. Our local species of muntjac is most likely the Red Muntjac (Muntiacus muntjac) though local experts have yet to come to a conclusion.
"According to a study on local muntjac species, it is believed that the muntjac species in Hong Kong is the Red Muntjac but further study is needed to clarify this information, as two muntjac species may coexist in Hong Kong," explained Mr. CT Shek, AFCD Conservation Officer (Biodiversity).
"Many people think we have two species, but I am unconvinced," said Dr. Richard Corlett, Department of Ecology and Biodiversity, University of Hong Kong. "We had a debate with the experts on the genus a few months ago but came to no clear conclusions. However, it is probably NOT the same as the Red Muntjac that occurs in Southeast Asia and NOT the Indian Muntjac."
A delicate looking animal, the muntjac generally has a deep rufous coloured fur, though its throat, interior thighs and rump are a creamy white. Its spindly legs don't look like they can support the weight of an animal that grows to a shoulder height of 50 cm and weighs 22-26 kg. Only the males grow single-branch, spiky antlers, 80-200 mm long. The characteristic canines of the male, curving outward from the lips, and the bony facial ridges make him look a lot less delicate up close.
The muntjac's herbivorous diet apparently includes the yellow fleshy fruit of the Hog Plum (Choerospondias axillaris), possibly due to its high protein and calcium content. The fruit's cleaned, hard woody stone is found in areas of forest where no such trees grow, suggesting the muntjac is an important agent of this seed's dispersal.
When startled, the deer emits a dog-like bark – hence it's commonly called a barking deer. The barking may continue for an hour or more. So, perhaps that barking you heard on your last walk wasn't a feral dog. Or was it?
Many thanks to Dr. Richard Corlett, Department of Ecology and Biodiversity and Mr. CT Shek, Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department Conservation Officer (Biodiversity) for providing information and photos for this article.