Field Guide
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Chinese Water Deer
Hydropotes inermis
Not yet photographed by the community
No antlers; vampire-like tusks; introduced to Woburn.
Species Profile
Not assessed under GB Red List (non-native species); listed as invasive in some regions due to ecological impact.
- Lifespan
- 10–12 years in the wild, up to 15 years in captivity
- Size & Weight
- 45–55 cm body length; 3.3–6.5 kg
- Habitat
- Wetland areas including reed beds, marshes, riverbanks, and overgrown vegetation near freshwater bodies.
- UK Distribution
- Established feral populations in eastern England, particularly in Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, and Essex; a non-native species that has escaped or been released from captivity since the 1960s.
- Diet
- Herbivorous; grazes on grasses, sedges, reeds, and aquatic vegetation; also browses on shrubs and crops.
- Predators
- Foxes, domestic dogs, and occasionally raptors; vulnerable to roadkill in areas with human activity.
- Mating Season
- November to December
- Breeding
- Typically 3–4 fawns per litter (gestation ~6 months); usually births occur in May–June; may produce two litters per year.
- Behaviour
- Primarily nocturnal and crepuscular, spending daylight hours in dense vegetation. Solitary or in small groups; highly aquatic and excellent swimmers. Males are territorial and defend areas using scent marking.
- •Unlike most deer species, males lack antlers but possess elongated canine teeth (tusks) up to 2.5 cm long, used in fighting.
- •Chinese Water Deer are one of the most aquatic deer species, often spending hours in water to avoid predators.
- •The species is native to eastern China and Korea but has established a thriving feral population in the UK, making it one of the most successful non-native ungulates.
- •Their fanged appearance and small size make them distinctive among British deer; they are sometimes called 'vampire deer' colloquially.
- •In the UK, they may cause damage to wetland habitats and agricultural crops, raising concerns about their ecological impact on native flora.
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