Japanese Serow
In the quiet of the forest lives the elusive serow. We are home to male ‘Flash’.
Master of camouflage
Japanese serows are masters of stealth, blending seamlessly in their densely vegetated environments, with dark fur in winter and a lighter coat in summer. If you look quickly at a Japanese serow, you may be tricked into thinking they have extra eyes – under their eyes they have large preorbital glands which secrete scent for marking territory. At four months of age, serow begin growing horns which grow throughout their whole lives.
- IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (at relatively low risk of extinction)
- Type: Mammal
- Habitat: Japanese islands of Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu
- Diet: Herbivore – leaves, shoots, and acorns
- Size: 70 to 85 centimetres tall
- Weight: 30 to 45 kilograms
facts about our animals
Fun Facts about Japanese Serow
A Japanese serow’s horns can be between 8 and 15 centimetres in length.
They are typically solitary but can also be found in small family groups.
Their preorbital glands increase in size as they age.
They are excellent climbers.
When resting, Japanese serow may retreat to caves.
Japanese serow are monogamous.
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