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Overview
Short description of Hydropotes inermis, Chinese Water Deer
This is a small, thickset deer with brownish-grey pelage, redder in summer, which is seen often in marshland. There are no antlers; males have prominent downward-pointing tusks. This species lacks a white rump-patch, and has only a short tail.
Description of Hydropotes inermis, Chinese Water Deer status in GB
Chinese water deer has a limited distribution in GB, being established only in parts of eastern England, with occasional sightings elsewhere. Around 1500 Chinese water deer were thought to be living in the wild in 2004. In 2009 there were estimated to be 4000 indivduals in the wild.
Habitat summary: Hydropotes inermis, Chinese Water Deer
Chinese water deer are associated mainly with wet habitats but also occur in woodland and on arable farmland.
Overview table
| Environment: |
Terrestrial
|
| Species status: |
Non-Native
|
| Native range: |
China, Eastern Asia, North Korea, South Korea
|
| Functional type: |
Herbivore
|
| Status in England: |
Non-Native
|
| Status in Scotland: |
Non-Native
|
| Status in Wales: |
Non-Native
|
| Location of first record: |
Leckford
|
| Date of first record: |
1944
|
Invasion history: Hydropotes inermis, Chinese Water Deer
Origin
The species has a fragmented and shrinking range in the Yangtse Basin of eastern China, perhaps now restricted to the Poyang Lake and Yancheng Nature Reserves, and separate populations in North and South Korea.
First Record
The first zoo imports to GB were in 1873. They were being released into parks from 1896 onwards and were first recorded in the wild in Buckinghamshire in 1944.
Pathway and Method
Chinese water deer were brought to GB as ornamental animals for parkland estates. They have been subject to translocations, some of which have led to escapes into the wild and the establishment of new populations.
Species Status
Apart from a small group in France, no other non-native populations of this species are known and the native population is under threat. The GB population may currently represent as much as 10% of the total worldwide for this IUCN Red-listed species. Chinese water deer were first noted in the wild in Bedfordshire in 1954, Norfolk in 1968, Cambridgeshire in 1971 and Suffolk in 1987, each probably the result of separate introductions. Natural spread from these centres has been very slow but seems to be accelerating recently.
Ecology & Habitat: Hydropotes inermis, Chinese Water Deer
Dispersal Mechanisms
The presence of Chinese water deer in GB is apparently due as much to unintentional escapes from collections as to deliberate release and translocation. Natural rates of spread are apparently very slow, and translocation has been an important factor in their dispersal.
Reproduction
Males rut mainly in December and litters mainly of 2–4 young are born mostly in May or June. Young females are fertile by the time of the next rut.
Known Predators/Herbivores
Chinese water deer have no important natural predators in GB. A few fawns may be taken by foxes and some adults by large dogs.
Resistant Stages
None known.
Habitat Occupied in GB
Chinese water deer occur in marshes with reeds, sedges or coarse grasses, and in woodland where there is a mixture of cover and open areas. They also feed on arable farmland.
Distribution: Hydropotes inermis, Chinese Water Deer
The species is well established in parts of the Fens, the Norfolk Broads, and western Bedfordshire. They also occur in Suffolk and are occasionally reported elsewhere.
Impacts: Hydropotes inermis, Chinese Water Deer
Environmental Impact
Chinese water deer tend to graze in robust habitats such as marshes and reedbeds and their ecosystem impact is thought to be low.
Health and Scoial Impact
None known although deer are implicated in road traffic accidents.
Economic Impact
This species may eat root crops or growing cereal when other food is scarce. It is thought they cause negligible economic damage to woodland or to crops. They are occasional road casualties and so contribute a small amount to the economic and human costs of traffic accidents caused by non-native deer.
References & Links: Hydropotes inermis, Chinese Water Deer
Identification
Harris, S. & Yalden, D.W. (2008) Mammals of the British Isles: Handbook. Fourth edition. The Mammal Society, Southampton.
Biology, ecology, spread, vectors
Hu, J., Fang, S.G. & Wan, Q.H. (2006) Genetic diversity of Chinese Water Deer (Hydropotes inermis inermis): implications for conservation. Biochemical Genetics, 44, 161–172.
Nau, B.S. (1992) Chinese water deer in Bedfordshire. Bedfordshire Naturalist, 46, 17–27.
Ward, A.I. (2005) Expanding ranges of wild and feral deer in Great Britain. Mammal Review, 35, 165–173.
Zhang, E.D., Teng, L.W. & Wu, Y.B. (2006) Habitat selection of the Chinese water deer (Hydropotes inermis) in Yancheng Nature Reserve, Jiangsu Province. Acta Theriologica Sinica, 26, 49–53.
Management and impact
Putman, R.J. (1997) Deer and road traffic accidents: options for management. Journal of Environmental Management, 51, 43–57.
Putman, R.J. & Moore, N.P. (1998) Impact of deer in lowland Britain on agriculture, forestry and conservation habitats. Mammal Review, 28, 141–164.
Xu, H.F., Zheng, X.Z. & Lu, H.J. (1998) Impact of human activity and habitat changes on distribution of Chinese water deer along the coast area in Northern Jiangsu. Acta Theriologica Sinica, 18, 161–167.
Wilson, C. (2003) Current and future deer management options. Report on behalf of Defra European Wildlife Division. full text
General
Cooke, A.S. (2009) Chinese water deer Hydropotes inermis in Britain. International Urban Ecology Review 4, 32–43.
Harris, R.B. & Duckworth, J.W. (2008) Hydropotes inermis. In IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded 25 August 2010.
Lever, C. (2009) The Naturalized Animals of Britain and Ireland. New Holland Publishers, London.
https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/nonnativespecies/downloadDocument.cfm?id=644
Gallery: Chinese Water Deer
