- 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.