Chinese Water Deer

A small deer without antlers and cute ‘teddy Bear’ Ears. The bucks have large protruding tusks used as weapons during the rut and in defence against predators.

CWD live for upto 6 years though nearly half of all fawns die within the month weeks of life. The British CWD accounts for approx 10% of the worldwide population (In China CWD these dear are near ‘threatened’ status)

Chinese water deer were first kept at London Zoo in 1873 but escaped from Whipsnade Zoo after introduction there in 1929. Originally being centred around their site of escape they slowly spread to surrounding areas of suitable habitat. Currently restricted to Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk, CWD prefer Reed beds, river shores, woodlands and fields.

The Chinese water deer's tusks indicate that it is a very primitive form of deer. Tusks were developed as weapons by deer before antlers evolved. Introductions into deer parks around the country, and subsequent escapes and releases, have facilitated their spread, although wet habitats in the fens of Cambridgeshire and the Norfolk Broads seem to provide them with the best habitat in which to thrive.
CED are Solitary animals, Bucks are particularly aggressive and do not tolerate the presence of other bucks. Both sexes give a short bark when alarmed or as a warning. While chasing other deer, bucks make a rapid chattering sound called whickering. Whistling and squeaking is emitted by the buck as he follows a doe during courtship. Both sexes scream when chased.

Bucks and does form pairs and defend territories during November and December and remain together until April. Bucks perform parallel walks with invading rivals, as do other deer species, and only fight if their dominance order is not identified using this method. Unlike antlered species, fighting in Chinese water deer rarely results in fatality but injuries are common.

Chinese Water Deer

Vital Statistics

Deer in the UK