1. Muntjac Deer Muntiacus reevesi

2. There are six species of wild deer in the British Isles.
Chinese Water Deer
Fallow Deer
Muntjac
Roe Deer
Red Deer
Sika Deer
Teachers notes: There are six species of deer living freely in the British countryside. Each species has specific characteristics which make it well-suited for the variety of habitats found across the country and highly adaptable to environmental changes. A mixture of native and introduced species, they make a valuable contribution to Britain’s biodiversity and are some of our most engaging British mammals.

3. All About Muntjac Deer
Teachers notes: Muntjac deer have proved highly successful at establishing themselves in the British countryside. They are found throughout the country, although with fewer numbers in the north and west.

4. All About Muntjac Deer
Muntjac Deer were brought from China to Woburn Park in the early 20th century. Some were released into the wild and some escaped.
Teachers notes: Muntjac were named in 1812 after John Reeves of the East India Company. The deer originated in south east Asia and were introduced to Britain by the Duke of Bedford at Woburn Park, Bedfordshire in the early 20th century. Feral populations were quick to establish from both escapees and deliberate releases.

5. What do I look like?
Muntjac are a small deer that are rapidly spreading across Great Britain. They are very adaptable and may soon be living near you!
Teachers notes: Reeves’ Muntjac deer are a small but stocky species of deer that stand at around 0.44 to 0.52m tall at the shoulder. When fully grown males (bucks) weigh between 10 to 18kg as adults and females (does) weigh 9 to16kg. By comparison an average adult man in Britain is 1.77m high and weighs 79kg.

6. What do I look like?
A Muntjac deer has a hunched appearance with a long tail and short legs. It is Labrador sized.
Teachers notes: Muntjac are a russet brown colour for most of the year, turning to a dull grey in winter. Characteristically, muntjac have a ‘hunched’ appearance, as their rumps are higher than their shoulders. They have a wide, flat tail, which is raised erect to display a white underside when disturbed.

7. Muntjac Deer have scent glands on their face. I haven’t been hurt!
What do I look like?
Muntjac Deer have scent glands on their face. I haven’t been hurt!
Teachers notes: Muntjac have two pairs of large glands on the face. The upper pair are the frontal glands, whilst the lower glands, below the eyes, are called sub-orbitals. Both glands are used to mark territories and boundaries.

8. What do I look like?
A male (boy) Muntjac deer is called a buck. What do you see on top of the buck’s head?
Teacher notes: Muntjac males have small antlers on top of a long fur-covered base (pedicle). These are usually straight with no branching.

9. What do I look like?
ANTLERS The buck’s antlers fall off or are cast between May and July. The new set start to grow very soon and are called ‘in velvet’.
Teacher notes: They have a ginger forehead with pronounced black lines running up the pedicles in bucks, and a dark diamond shape on does. Also known as the ‘barking deer’, muntjac vocalise in many different situations. The bark is repeated and loud for its size. Muntjac also scream when frightened.

10. What do I look like?
A female (girl) Muntjac deer is called a doe. The Doe has a triangular or kite shape on her face. Does a doe have antlers?
Teachers notes: Does have no antlers and a dark crown patch on their heads.

11. What do I look like?
The Buck has small antlers and tusks. Does don’t have antlers. Both the Buck and Doe have dark face patches.
Teacher notes: A baby Muntjac is called a kid. Does and offspring communicate with a series of squeaks. Muntjac does are capable of breeding at seven months old and breed all year round. Does produce a single kid after a gestation period of seven months. A doe is ready to mate again days after giving birth leading to a potentially rapid population growth.

12. Where do you think I like to live?
Teacher Notes: Like most other deer, muntjac were originally residents of deciduous and coniferous woodland. Increasingly however they are being found in more habitats throughout the country, and are now present in urban areas and gardens with shrubby borders. They prefer areas with a diverse range of low-level dense vegetation.

13. Lifestyle facts.
Feeding Muntjac Deer are browsers. They like a little of this and a little of that including shoots, leaves, buds, garden plants and bulbs as well as berries and nuts.
Teacher notes: Diet varies depending on where the animals live. They browse small amounts of nutritious plants such as herbs and shrubs.

14. Muntjac are solitary or found in buck/doe pairs, or with their young.
Lifestyle facts.
Muntjac are solitary or found in buck/doe pairs, or with their young.
Teacher notes: Muntjac are solitary or found in buck/doe pairs, or with their young. Small territories are held year-round by bucks, but they are generally tolerant of other males nearby. Does’ home ranges overlap and cover several bucks’ territories. The deer are active throughout the day and night but are most likely to be active at dawn and dusk.

15. Lifestyle facts.
Muntjac have tiny feet. They leave small prints called slots. You can compare them with the 50 pence piece.
Teacher notes: Muntjac make very small hoof prints (slots), about 2.5cm long

16. Acknowledgements
Thank you to everyone who assisted with this project, in particular:
Suzie Moore, Education Development Officer, New Forest Centre
George Trebinski, Wildlife Photographer and all other photographers
The BDS Education Committee Dorothy Ireland, Charles Smith Jones, Sarah Stride, and John Johnson
Contributors to the British Deer Society Image Library
Anne Bellerby, Jo Mahler, Campbell McInnes, Simon Crook, Tony Charlton, Bob Holmes, Glyn Ingram

17. www.bds.org.uk 01425 655434 Championing the future for British deer
The Walled Garden, Burgate Manor,
Fordingbridge, Hampshire, SP6 1EF