International studbook of this species is held by Zoo Olomouc. The newest edition (2023) is out. I translate here an excerpt of press release accompanying it:
OLOMOUC ZOO PUBLISHED AN INTERNATIONAL STUDBOOK FOR THE RARE SIKA OF VIETNAM
The Olomouc Zoo published for the first time an international studbook of a rare deer - Vietnamese sika deer. The authorization for this activity is issued by the World Association of Zoological Gardens and aquariums (WAZA). "The Olomouc Zoo is next to the Prague Zoo the only Czech zoo that keeps any international studbooks," explains doc. RNDr. Jan Pluháček, Ph.D., researcher at the Olomouc Zoo, studbook keeper and coordinator of the European Program (EEP) for the Vietnamese sika deer (extinct in wild). The last wild individual was hunted in 1974. "Fortunately, at that time it was already kept by zoos. In October 2023, it was held in 39 zoos worldwide counting 419 individuals (of which 411 individuals were kept in 35 European zoos). The second largest herd of Vietnamese sika deer outside of Vietnam is in the Olomouc Zoo and has 25 individuals," he adds.
CONTENTS OF THE STUDBOOK
This edition of the studbook seamlessly follows on from all the previous ones published by the German Tierpark Berlin (1993-2014) and then Ostrava Zoo (2015-2022). It contains data for all living individuals in zoos around the world, data on animals born (92) in the last year and those which died or were removed from breeding (80) and, last but not least, those which were moved between individual institutions (11).
EEP
European breeding is managed by the so-called European Program (EEP), which is also coordinated by the Olomouc Zoo. As part of this program, binding recommendations for the transfer of individuals between institutions as well as breeding recommendations are issued. In 2023, a recommendation was issued to move 39 individuals. In regards of breeding, only those zoos are allowed to breed, that are capable to breed to preserve the fecundity of the females and allow them to reproduce within their nature, but which they are at the same time able to eliminate surplus individuals. If they cannot or do not want to cull animals, then the alternative is to establish bachelor groups as a genetic reserve for the population. This system not only does best reflect the situation in nature and the welfare of captive animals, but it is also the best and most efficient way to maintain the European population of this rare subspecies in the future.
Link to press release
OLOMOUC ZOO PUBLISHED AN INTERNATIONAL STUDBOOK FOR THE RARE SIKA OF VIETNAM
The Olomouc Zoo published for the first time an international studbook of a rare deer - Vietnamese sika deer. The authorization for this activity is issued by the World Association of Zoological Gardens and aquariums (WAZA). "The Olomouc Zoo is next to the Prague Zoo the only Czech zoo that keeps any international studbooks," explains doc. RNDr. Jan Pluháček, Ph.D., researcher at the Olomouc Zoo, studbook keeper and coordinator of the European Program (EEP) for the Vietnamese sika deer (extinct in wild). The last wild individual was hunted in 1974. "Fortunately, at that time it was already kept by zoos. In October 2023, it was held in 39 zoos worldwide counting 419 individuals (of which 411 individuals were kept in 35 European zoos). The second largest herd of Vietnamese sika deer outside of Vietnam is in the Olomouc Zoo and has 25 individuals," he adds.
CONTENTS OF THE STUDBOOK
This edition of the studbook seamlessly follows on from all the previous ones published by the German Tierpark Berlin (1993-2014) and then Ostrava Zoo (2015-2022). It contains data for all living individuals in zoos around the world, data on animals born (92) in the last year and those which died or were removed from breeding (80) and, last but not least, those which were moved between individual institutions (11).
EEP
European breeding is managed by the so-called European Program (EEP), which is also coordinated by the Olomouc Zoo. As part of this program, binding recommendations for the transfer of individuals between institutions as well as breeding recommendations are issued. In 2023, a recommendation was issued to move 39 individuals. In regards of breeding, only those zoos are allowed to breed, that are capable to breed to preserve the fecundity of the females and allow them to reproduce within their nature, but which they are at the same time able to eliminate surplus individuals. If they cannot or do not want to cull animals, then the alternative is to establish bachelor groups as a genetic reserve for the population. This system not only does best reflect the situation in nature and the welfare of captive animals, but it is also the best and most efficient way to maintain the European population of this rare subspecies in the future.
Link to press release