A case of female-perpetrated infanticide in captive white-lipped deer (Cervus albirostris)

A case of male filicide in farmed European fallow deer (Dama dama)

Male infanticide is a widespread phenomenon in mammals and is usually directed against non-filial infants. In cervids, reports on male infanticide remain very rare. This article reports a case of male filicide (filial infanticide) in farmed European fallow deer (Dama dama). The conflict between the buck and his male offspring took place at the feeding station during the rut and was recorded on camera. Several times (about 7) a fawn entered the feeding station but was repeatedly chased away by the buck. On the last occasion, the buck struck/stabbed the fawn with his antlers. Post-mortem examination revealed penetrating abdominal trauma with gastrointestinal perforation. This is the first record of male infanticide in fallow deer, although it differs from other cases in cervids where the attacks were clearly intentional. Therefore, we cannot provide a firm explanation, although it was likely a non-adaptive/pathological behaviour under the specific (unnatural) circumstances.

A case of male infanticide in captive sika deer (Cervus nippon)

Male infanticide has been reported in wide range of mammalian taxa however it remains very rare in even-toed ungulates where it was documented in two species only. Among six hypotheses explaining this phenomenon, the sexual selection hypothesis is supported by the largest evidence in mammals. Here, we report the first case of male infanticide in sika deer (Cervus nippon) which occurred at Ostrava Zoo. At the end of rutting season, new male had been joined with two pregnant females that successfully gave birth and reared offspring in his presence then. However, in the next season, the same male attacked and killed his own newborn female offspring. Since this male was separated from the herd for most of the time in the rut, we argue that he could be confused about paternity. Therefore, this case of infanticide might be driven by the same mechanism as that which is in line with the sexual selection hypothesis. In addition, based on our evidence we cannot reject the social pathology hypothesis as an alternative explanation.