First Baby Sika Deer Born in Jinsha Deer Garden of Jinsha Site Museum
Release Time: 2017-11-02
The first cute baby sika deer was born in Jinsha Deer Garden of Jinsha Site Museum on July 22, 2013, marking the advent of the first breeding season in Jinsha Deer Garden. It is understood three baby sika deer will be born from July to September. These cute new lives’ coming indicates the harmony between human and nature in Chengdu, where an ancient Shu civilization with a history of 3000 years thrives.
Today there are 27 sika deer and 2 white deer living in Jinsha Garden. These lively witnesses of Shu civilization’s passing down were brought here during the 5th Chengdu Jinsha Sun Festival in 2013. A huge number of deerhorns have been discovered in Jinsha Site since the discovery of Jinsha culture in 2001. It is estimated that there were over one thousand sika deer and sambars living in the ancient Jinsha 3000 years ago. In that age, all things were bright. Human followed the laws of nature, living with beautiful and docile deer and other animals in harmony. The discovery of large-scale deerhorns and their buried ruins with gold, jade and bronze wares indicate that the deerhorn was used in the solemn and sacred religious sacrifice ceremony. Using deerhorn as the sacrifice for God, people wished that the elements were propitious, the country prospered and the people enjoyed peace with God blessed.
Up to now these deer as a propitious and cultural sign of ancient Shu have completely adapted to the primitive environment of Jinsha Site Museum covered by thick forest of trees and tall bamboos. Lovely sika deer graze at ease, play with each other happily and sometimes make gentle and special neigh. These lively scenes remind people of the ancient time described in the Classic of Poetry. And yesterday the birth of the first baby deer in Jinsha Deer Garden brought people the hope of the passing down and prosperity of ancient Shu civilization.
When the reporter came to the spot, No. 35 deer, one of the three mother deer kept walking around the pen anxiously and never thought about eating her favorite food, the grass and dry alfafa. At around 3 p.m., under the guidance of three trainers and two veterinarians the mother deer went into labor with gentle tweets. With soft neigh, the baby deer’s fragile legs came out gradually, and an hour later, it came out completely. The height of this baby deer was about 30cm. It kept trying to drink its mother’s milk by standing up on shaking legs, but it fell down again and again, yelling painfully. The mother deer licked her child’s body gently as a comfort and encouragement. As the trainer said, there is a protective layer of afterbirth on the surface of the baby deer’s body, and only when the mother deer licks it off can the baby stand up on its own. Having fallen down for so many times, the baby deer was able to stand up straightly and drink its mother’s milk.
Now the trainers are trying raising sika deer in free range. In the near future visitors can see these sika deer in this primitive garden. Furthermore, Jinsha Site Museum will invite the public to name this baby deer. If the name submitted is chosen as the deer’s name, the winner can come to see the baby deer with families at any time within one year. More information can be found on the official website or Microblog of Jinsha Site Museum.
