WATER DEER FACTS

DISTRIBUTION: Native to China,

Democratic People’s Republic (North) of Korea and Republic of Korea; introduced in France and the UK.

UK DISTRIBUTION: Primarily

Bedfordshire and East Anglia but slowly spreading south and west as far as Oxfordshire.

IUCN RED LIST STATUS: Vulnerable within its native range with populations decreasing.

OTHER NAMES: Chinese water deer,

Korean water deer, river deer.

FOOD: A highly selective feeder, choosing plants including herbs, forbs and young grasses. Its digestive system is unable to process fibre so it avoids coarser material such as more mature grasses.

HABITAT: The preferred native habitat is coastal plains, reed beds and grassland along river estuaries, otherwise other lowland areas are also occupied. Here it has adapted to live in parkland and farmland, but many successful populations exist in the fens of East Anglia, which more closely resembles its natural range.

BREEDING: The rut takes place between late November and December. During this time the bucks compete aggressively, using their canine tusks to slash at an opponent’s face and neck, and injuries are commonplace. BIRTHING: After a relatively short gestation period of around 170-180 days, two to three young are normally born (up to seven have been recorded) around May or June. LIFESPAN: Up to 10 years, though six years is considered average.

HEIGHT (AT SHOULDER): Bucks 50cm-52cm (19½in-20½in), does are slightly smaller.

WEIGHT: Bucks up to 19kg (42lb), does up to 17kg (37½lb).

OPEN SEASON: The open season for both bucks and does in England and Wales is 1 November to 31 March. MINIMUM CALIBRES: A calibre of not less than .220in must be used, generating at least 1,000ft/lb of muzzle energy and firing a bullet weighing no less than 50-gr. All bullets used must be designed to expand in a predictable manner.