Settling our deer debate

How many species of deer are there in Britain? I say seven, but my mates say it’s eight. Who is right?

This question seems to have been doing the rounds recently and you can have a bit of fun with it. There are six species recognised in the UK. These are red, sika, fallow, roe, Reeves’s muntjac and Chinese water deer. But there is also a group of reindeer living in the Central Highlands of Scotland, so we could claim there are seven species at liberty in England, Wales and Scotland.

However, if we wish to split hairs, two of these species, the red and sika, are known to interbreed and the same two have a number of subspecies, some of which are present in mainland UK.

It could be argued that red can be divided into European and Scottish, and let’s not forget the various parktype animals, the genes of which are in the population. Meanwhile, the Japanese subspecies of sika deer can also be found — these are known as the Manchurian and Formosan — as well as blends of these genetic types.

Splitting the hair further, claims have been made that there are Formosan muntjac present in East Anglia. But essentially that still leaves us with seven species, albeit with some variety within them.

If we take Ireland into consideration the issue becomes a bit murkier. Due to the scale of hybridisation between red and sika, a hybrid has developed in some parts of the country. Sometimes it’s clear the animal is a hybrid and sometimes it’s much harder to tell because the mixed genetics don’t always result in a recognisable type.

So take your pick. Seven certainly, but perhaps in the long run there will be eight. IW

A group of reindeer live in the Highlands, meaning that Britain is home to seven species of deer