Sika deer knocks fleeing tourist into bushes in China
The woman was unhurt after the encounter at Lianhua Mountain in Dalian, Liaoning province.
A sika deer charged at a tourist and knocked her into bushes at Lianhua Mountain in Dalian, in China’s Liaoning province. The woman was unhurt.
Footage from 26 September shows the tourist, wearing a white bucket hat, walking cautiously beside the antlered deer, which is initially standing still. The animal turns towards her, lowers its head and charges.
As the woman tries to flee, the deer strikes her, causing her to lose her footing and fall into the vegetation. Onlookers can be heard gasping, and other tourists rush towards her. The deer later walks away.
Sika deer are medium-sized deer native to eastern Asia, including China, Japan, Korea and parts of Russia. They have distinctive spotted coats, while males have branching antlers.
Although generally wary of people, males can become more aggressive during the breeding season, known as the rut. Bucks may become territorial and use their antlers in confrontations with other males.
Deer can also react defensively if they feel threatened or someone approaches too closely. Lowering the head and charging can be warning or aggressive behaviour, particularly when an animal perceives a person as a threat. The reason for this deer’s charge is not established in the account.
Wildlife experts advise keeping a safe distance and avoiding approaching, touching or feeding deer, whose behaviour can be unpredictable.