White-Lipped Deer

The white-lipped deer, also called Thorold’s deer, is a large high-altitude deer native to the Tibetan Plateau and surrounding regions of western China. Mature stags commonly weigh about 400–600 pounds, while hinds generally weigh about 250–400 pounds. The species has a dark brown to gray-brown coat, heavy build, strong legs, and a distinctive white muzzle or white lips that give it its name. Males carry large branching antlers and develop a heavy neck during the rut. White-lipped deer are adapted to cold, open, high-elevation habitats and mountain grasslands. In the United States, they are uncommon and have been kept mainly in zoos, conservation facilities, and specialized private collections during the late 20th century, rather than being widely established on exotic ranches.