On Wednesday 7 October, the RSPCA and fire services were called to a farm in Chatteris, Cambridgeshire, after a rarely seen Chinese water deer had been spotted at the bottom of an empty reservoir.
The hole’s steep walls were covered in plastic sheeting, and it was clear that the little deer would not be able to get out without the help of the rescue workers.
“This poor deer couldn’t climb out of the hole and was completely stuck,” says animal rescue officer John Woods, who contacted Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service for support. “The Chatteris and Dogsthorpe crew kindly attended and helped use their ladders to get into the reservoir and get the deer out.
“The deer was active and well with no injuries and soon made a swift exit as soon as it had been freed,” says Woods. “Not even a nod, a wink or a polite thank you after all that effort!
“Seriously though, it’s the highlight of our job being able to save and release animals back into the wild like this.”
Chinese water deer, known for their diminutive size and distinctive tusks (rather than antlers), are native to China and Korea. After escaping from UK zoos in the 1800s and 1900s, they are now found in several areas in southern England, including Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk.
One of six deer species found in the UK, Chinese water deer spend their time in reed beds, river shores, woodland and fields.
To find out what to do if you find a deer in trouble, visit the RSPCA’s website.
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Top image: Chinese water deer in reservoir. Credit: RSPCA
