Chinese Water Deer

Shot taken at Carlton Marshes Nature Reserve, Suffolk. 

I hadn't seen Chinese water deer before. I understand that they were brought over to this country in the early part of the last century. They were to adorn stately homes and gardens, but some escaped. Although they haven't spread over a very large area, these shy little deer are now at large in the countryside.

Because of hunting and habit loss their numbers are falling in their native China. Britian could soon be the world stronghold of this little mammal. 

These deer do not have antlers but both sexes have a small pair of tusks. They spend most of their time in damp, marshy fens.