|
Chinese water deer are not native to Britain; they
were brought over from northeast China in the early 1900s and kept in
Whipsnade Zoo and Woburn Park in Bedfordshire. Several individuals
escaped and successfully populated the surrounding area. Chinese water
deer are fairly small animals and are the only deer species in the UK
not to have antlers. Instead, the males have large canine teeth that can
grow up to 6cm long and which they use to fight off other males setting
foot in their territory.
During the summer, they have light chestnut fur,
which turns pale grey in winter. Chinese water deer are active both day
and night and often spend much of their time grazing. They remain alert
at all times and rely on their sensitive hearing, smell and sight to
detect any danger. They are solitary, territorial creatures and
generally only get together in winter during the rutting season.
Habitat:
Chinese Water Deer are most
commonly found near reed-beds, swamps, marshes, rivers and streams.
Status & distribution:
There are small Chinese Water
Deer populations near the Norfolk Broads and
elsewhere in East Anglia. It is thought that numbers in the UK may
represent 10% of the world population of this species.
|
