This image and the accompanying story were provided courtesy of Paul Haynes, a wildlife photographer and enthusiast from Bournemouth, Dorset.

Sika Deer are from Asia and Japan but were introduced to the UK for 'ornamental' reasons.


Copyright Paul Haynes 2008
This was taken on an early morning visit to Arne Nature Reserve, a beautiful area of old deciduous forest and coastal salt marshes on the western shores of Poole Harbour.

During a wonderful walk in the rising sun Paul saw many Deer moving quietly through the forest, including this female, who seemed very interested in his presence and stopped to study him in a patch of sunlight before moving off.

Originally, Sika Deer are from Asia and Japan but were introduced to the UK for 'ornamental' reasons on Country Estates and have since spread.
In Dorset Sika Deer were introduced on Brownsea Island but they swam ashore and established themselves on the mainland.
They live in groups of females with males living solitary lives and only joining the main groups during the breeding season. Sika deer roam over large territories.

In Britain and Ireland several distinct wild and feral populations now exist. Some of these are in remote or isolated areas, a good is example being on the island of Lundy. However, others are also living along side populations of the native Red Deer.

Since the two species are able to interbreed easily, there is now a serious conservation concern in retaining the native bloodline, and in mainland Scotland biologists have contended that there are now no pure sika or Red deer left at all, and that the two species have completely and irretrievably hybridised. The same is thought to be true of sika and the remnant wild Red deer population in Ireland too.

Just another example of how man's unintended meddling with nature can have far reaching implications on well established native species...

Thanks to Paul Haynes for this great image and the story.

Vince De Luca.