Deer of Ireland facts for kids
There are four types of deer living wild in Ireland today. These are red deer, fallow deer, sika deer, and the newer Reeve's muntjac. Reeve's muntjac is slowly making Ireland its home. Recently, roe deer have also been seen in County Wicklow and County Armagh.
Long ago, two other types of deer lived in Ireland. The Irish elk and the red deer both disappeared from Ireland about 10,500 years ago. This was during a very cold period called the Nahanagan Stadial. The reindeer also left Ireland about 9,500 years ago. Many bones from these ancient deer have been found in peat lands. These bones are very well preserved.
The red deer living in Ireland today were once thought to be from the original deer that came after the last ice age. However, scientists now believe that people brought them from Britain. This happened around 3300 BC, during the neolithic period. Red deer almost vanished again in the 1900s. Only about 60 were left. But now, their numbers have grown to about one thousand. The main group of these "native" red deer lives in Killarney National Park.
Fallow deer were brought to Ireland during the time of the Normans. Now, there are about 10,000 of them. Sika deer arrived in 1860 at Powerscourt Estate. They escaped from there and now number around 20,000. Scottish roe deer were brought to the Lissadell Estate in County Sligo around 1870. The roe deer at Lissadell were known for their unusual antlers. They lived in that area for about 50 years before they died out. Today, very few roe deer are found in Ireland.
Contents
Deer from the Past
Some deer species once lived in Ireland but are no longer here.
Deer That Disappeared
- Irish elk: This giant deer became extinct about 10,500 years ago.
- Reindeer: These deer disappeared from Ireland about 9,500 years ago.
New Deer in Ireland
Some deer species have been brought to Ireland by people.
Deer That Came Back
- Red deer: These deer were reintroduced to Ireland around 3300 BC.
Deer That Were Introduced
- Fallow deer: Brought during Norman times.
- Chinese water deer: A newer introduction.
- Roe deer: Some have been seen recently.
- Sika deer: Introduced in the 1860s.
- Reeve's muntjac: A very recent arrival that is spreading.
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