The sika deer (Cervus nippon), also known as the northern spotted deer or Japanese deer, is a species native to East Asia and introduced to other regions. Once found from northern Vietnam to the Russian Far East, sika deer were nearly hunted to extinction in the 19th century. Protective laws established in the mid-20th century facilitated their population recovery from the 1950s to the 1980s.
The sika deer is part of the genus Cervus, which includes “true” deer within the family Cervidae. While they were once grouped with other species, genetic differences led to their reclassification. Today, the genus Cervus includes the sika deer, red deer (C. elaphus), and wapiti or elk (C. canadensis).
