Thorold’s deer is a threatened species of deer found in the grassland, shrubland, and forest habitats, at high altitudes, of the eastern Tibetan Plateau, as well as some fragmented areas further north in central Western China. It is also known as the white-lipped deer for the white fur around its snout.

Thorold’s deer is one of the larger ungulate mammals within its range, and fills an ecological niche similar to the Tibetan red deer (a subspecies of the red deer). It was first scientifically described by Nikolay Przhevalsky in 1883. As of early 2011, more than 100 of the deer are kept globally in Species360-registered zoos, and, in 1998, it was estimated that about 7,000 remained in the wild.

Although the species was first described by Przhevalsky in 1883, it is also known as “Thorold’s deer” because the specimens was procured by G. W. Thorold in 1892 and was described by W. T. Blanford as Cervus thoroldi in 1893. The former genus, however, is named after Przhevalsky and the species name (albirostris) comes from the Latin albus (white) and rostrum (snout), referring to the white muzzle and lips. Thorold’s deer has traditionally been included in the genus Cervus, and genetic evidence suggests this is more appropriate than its erstwhile placement in the monotypic genus Przewalskium.

No subspecies have been recognized.

Thorold’s deer is one of the largest deer species, with a shoulder height around 115 to 140 cm. Males, which typically weigh from 180 to 230 kg, are significantly larger than females, at 90 to 160 kg in weight. The hair is coarse and grey-brown over most of the body, fading to yellowish buff on the underparts, with a distinct reddish-brown patch on the rump, and a ridge of darker hair running down the spine. During winter, the coat is paler, and about twice as thick as during the summer, being thicker even than that of a moose. The head is darker than the rest of the body, especially in males, and contrasts with pure white markings on the lips, around the nose, and the throat just below the chin.

Thorold’s deer has a number of physical and physiological adaptations to its high altitude environment. The short legs and broad hooves make it an agile climber, able to use steep mountainous terrain to escape predators. Their nasal cavities are unusually large, allowing them to breathe in high altitude air (with little oxygen), while the thick hair protects against the cold. The red blood cells in this species are smaller than average for similarly sized mammals, and are very numerous, both features that increase its ability to take up limited amounts of oxygen.

With regards to habitat and environment, the white-lipped deer seems to favour a mix of grassland, shrubland and forest. Their ideal habitat is often located well-above the treeline, and they are known for frequenting elevations between 3,500 to 5,100 metres which is among the highest of any deer species in the world, besides the South American taruca. The white-lipped deer also migrates between elevations, seasonally; as the weather cools in the autumn, they descend from their high-elevation spring-summer pastures, where the conditions are more comfortable (and the swarms of biting insects are less prolific), down to lower, wind-sheltered woodlands and valleys where they will stay for the duration of winter.

Thorold’s deer is a crepuscular animal, and normally lives in herds of at least 10 individuals, with bachelor male herds and female-juvenile herds staying separated until the breeding season. Older males typically travel alone, or occasionally cohabitate with a smaller group of similarly-aged bucks. In past centuries, herds containing hundreds of the deer were reported at high elevations; however, today, herds of over 50-100 individuals are rare, likely a result of the reduced population overall. Primarily grazers, they do also browse on trees that they encounter where they live. They have few natural predators, although Himalayan wolves and snow leopards have been known to eat Thorold’s deer on occasion, and stray or feral dogs may target fawns.

Like other deer species, Thorold’s deer has a range of vocalisations, including loud alarm calls, screams and whistles (which are audible over 500m away), bellows and growls (made by males in rut), and quieter grunts, mews made by females and young. Like reindeer, they can also make unusual, loud snapping sounds from their carpal bones, the function of which is unclear. Thorold’s deer rarely run, but they can gallop at up to 35 miles per hour.

The rut occurs between September and November, when herds containing both males and females become more common. Such herds consist of several males, each maintaining a small harem of females that they protect from other males. Males compete with one another in a manner similar to other deer – wrestling with antlers, scent marking, visual displays, and grunting warning sounds. Mating consists of a single rapid thrust. The female gives birth to a single baby after a gestation period of 220 to 250 days, usually around May/June. Shortly before giving birth, the mother locates a secluded den, often in bushes or shrubby cover. The calves are born with white spots, and able to stand within about 40 minutes of birth. Initially, the mother protects them by moving them between a number of different locations, only visiting them twice a day to allow them to suckle. After about two weeks, they re-join the herd. The calves’ spots begin to fade after around six weeks, and they attain the full adult colour by the end of their first year. They become sexually mature during their second or third year, although males are rarely successful in the rut until they are at least five years old. Thorold’s deer have been reported to live up to 21 years in captivity, but probably do not survive for more than 12 years in the wild.

Thorold’s deer is found only in scattered populations across its former range, although the remoteness of its preferred habitat makes it difficult to study in detail. It faces threats from advancing human agriculture, including competition from domestic animals such as sheep, goats, and yaks. It is also hunted, for meat, antlers, and other body parts (such as the velvet) used in traditional Chinese medicine. The species is listed as vulnerable by the IUCN and is a Class I protected species in China.

The species has been farmed for its antlers in China and New Zealand, and is also found in numerous zoos worldwide. It appears able to adapt to being kept at low altitudes without much difficulty.