Chinese Water Deer - Carlton Marshes
Description: The Chinese Water Deer is one of the smaller deer subspecies in the UK (up to 55cm at shoulder height, weighing between 11 and 18 kgs). They have a lighter brown fur coat, which changes to a more greyish colour in winter.
The males (bucks) of this deer subspecies have no antlers, instead both the bucks and the does (females) have tusks (long corner teeth), though the females' are less visible. Water deer has also more roundish ears than especially other larger deer subspecies.
Life Expectancy:on average up to 6 years
Native/Introduced: Introduced - Chinese Water Deer was brought into captivity in Britain by London Zoo in 1873, and then escaped from the related Whipsnade Zoo in 1929. Further escapes happened from deer parks later. Interestingly the British water deer population is estimated to be 10% of today's global population of this species.
Habitat:Chinese Water Deer have their home range usually in reed beds, along rivers, though also in woodland and also fields.
Distribution in the UK:The Chinese Water Deer is in the UK mainly at home in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk, though I have seen them myself most often in Suffolk (primarily at Carlton Marshes but also in other coastal areas).
Status:Globally: Vulnerable (IUCN Red List)
Like all wild deer, Chinese water deer is protected under the Deer Act 1991, the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, the Hunting Act 2004 and the Wild Mammals Protection Act 1995,
Besides no hunting of deer being allowed at night time, there is a Closed Season for both, the bucks and the does from 1 April until 31 October while fawns are born and grow up.
Information Source:British Deer Society, IUCN Red List
The males (bucks) of this deer subspecies have no antlers, instead both the bucks and the does (females) have tusks (long corner teeth), though the females' are less visible. Water deer has also more roundish ears than especially other larger deer subspecies.
Life Expectancy:on average up to 6 years
Native/Introduced: Introduced - Chinese Water Deer was brought into captivity in Britain by London Zoo in 1873, and then escaped from the related Whipsnade Zoo in 1929. Further escapes happened from deer parks later. Interestingly the British water deer population is estimated to be 10% of today's global population of this species.
Habitat:Chinese Water Deer have their home range usually in reed beds, along rivers, though also in woodland and also fields.
Distribution in the UK:The Chinese Water Deer is in the UK mainly at home in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk, though I have seen them myself most often in Suffolk (primarily at Carlton Marshes but also in other coastal areas).
Status:Globally: Vulnerable (IUCN Red List)
Like all wild deer, Chinese water deer is protected under the Deer Act 1991, the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, the Hunting Act 2004 and the Wild Mammals Protection Act 1995,
Besides no hunting of deer being allowed at night time, there is a Closed Season for both, the bucks and the does from 1 April until 31 October while fawns are born and grow up.
Information Source:British Deer Society, IUCN Red List
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Also in: Suffolk - Mammals
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