Here in the New Forest, we have five different type of deer. The red, the sika, the fallow, the roe and the muntjac. Only the red and roe deer are native to the new forest, with red deer are found in pockets of the forest. The red and the sika deer are closely related and can cross-breed, so they are separated by the railway line. Sika deer originate from Eastern Asia and in the 1900's Beaulieu introduced a herd to their estate. There are only an average of 150 sika deer in the New Forest and you will find them roaming the conifer woodlands between Beaulieu and Brockenhurst. Sika deer are very shy and will hide deep in the wood during the day and venturing out into the heath at night. Sika deer are a medium sized deer and are often solitary, but form small herds during winter. The stags tend to have a four point antler and small heads compared to their body with a shaggy mane of dark hair. The hinds could be mistaken for a fallow during the summer as the sika deer have a similar light coloured coat with white spots on their rump, which changes to a chestnut brown in the winter. Sika deer have a heart-shaped white rump with dark edging. The rump is the most likely part of the deer you will see as it bounces away.
Deer of the New Forest.
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