For the January edition of 12 Months of Wildlife, myself, Kannan & my boyfriend Dan, ventured down to the South of England for a weekend to visit the Natural History Museum & the Great Fen…
The Great Fen
Location: Ramsey, Cambridgeshire.
Background Info: 50 year rewilding project to create a huge wetland area, officially born in 2001, 2140 acres of land are currently in restoration & 3750 acres are being managed for nature conservation.
Hope to see: Chinese Water Deer.
Location Map of the Great Fen Project taken from the Great Fen website
Woodwalton Fen
One of the largest rewilding projects of its kind within Europe, the Great Fen project is named after a large area of fens that could be seen on local maps within the same area in a time before the land was drained for farming purposes in the 17th century.
Woodwalton Fen, The Great Fen – Photograph I took during our visit.
Woodwalton Fen and Holme Fen were 2 of the last remaining areas of wild fen & became Natural Nature Reserves (NNR’s). The initial plan was to link the two, this soon grew into the 50 year project the Great Fen has now become.
Woodwalton Fen was the specific area that we visited during our trip. The reasoning behind this was actually due to a specific species that has made its home there.
Consisting of 500 acres of land Woodwaltons’ woodland, reedbeds, meadows, streams & meres are home to a vast array of fauna & flora. With more than 1000 species, this fen is nationally & internationally recognised as an area of wildlife importance.
One species that has flourished here does not actually belong in the area at all, or even the country.
The Chinese Water Deer, Hydropotes inermis, has become 1 of the most commonly seen mammals within Woodwalton Fen.
Two Chinese Water Deer within Woodwalton Fen – Photograph taken by Paul Smith, featured on the Great fen website
Chinese Water Deer, Hydropotes inermis
Originally native to Southeast China & Korea, towards the end of the 19th century the species was introduced to Woburn Abbey from London Zoo. After breeding exceptionally well, groups of the deer were relocated to other collections around the country, where, it would seem, they escaped or were intentionally released.
No one knows for certain how the deer made it to the Fen but rumour has it that in 1950 several individuals from the Woburn collection were released near the vicinity of Woodwalton.
Gothic Bambi: Chinese Water Deer male taxidermy specimen on display at the Natural History Museum, London, showcasing the vampire-esque tusks that protrude from the mouth.
At this time, the Water Deer were assumed to be another Asian invasive species of deer. Reeve’s Muntjac, Muntiacus reevesi, had been released into the wilds of the UK since 1901 & increased rapidly in population. The deer spreading through Woodwalton were not correctly identified as Chinese Water Deer until 1971. Ironically, in 1980 it was discovered that Reeve’s Muntjac were also present within the fen.
Unlike other deer species, Chinese Water Deer do not possess antlers, instead bucks have tusks (elongated canines). This vampiric dental work is used during rutting season in contests with rival males. A clever adaptation to reduce the risk of damage occurring during these interactions is that the tusks can move within their sockets – this is also useful in aiding browsing.
Despite being labelled as an invasive species, the UK population & particularly the population within the Great Fen are significant for conservation purposes. In 2010 the British population of Chinese Water Deer was predicted to be ~7000, within Woodwalton Fen during 2015/16 the population was thought to be ~100 individuals. The total count within the entire Great Fen site accounts for 2-3% of the national population & it is now thought that the UK is now home to ~10% of the entire world population – outnumbering that of China, one of the Deers’ native ranges.
Listed on the IUCN Red List as ‘Vulnerable’, the UK residents may prove to be valuable in the future conservation of the species within their natural habitat.
I Spy
During our visit we were in fact lucky enough to see not 1 but 3 Chinese Water Deer – however, failing as Zoologists none of us managed to take a single photograph. The areas within the Fen that the deer inhabit during the day time are immensely dense making it difficult enough to capture a decent shot, combine that with the skittish nature of the species & as soon as we could see the deer clearly with the camera, the deer could also see us… and like a flash, goodbye deer.
Despite the disappointment of not managing to capture any photographs of the Deer, the experience was truly incredible. I personally had convinced myself that we were most likely not going to have any sightings but that the Fen would still be a brilliant & beautiful stop on our 12 Months of Wildlife journey. As soon as I spotted our first Deer (I actually spotted all 3 of the Chinese Water Deer, not to brag…well maybe a little) I was filled with a complete rush, it is definitely a memory that will stay with me.
Along side the Chinese Water Deer, we also saw several other species as we wandered through Woodwalton, including a Muntjac Deer that promptly let out 1 of their long barking alarm calls. Incredible behaviour to hear & see, however, it did spell ‘the end’ for our deer spotting success.
Species List
> Chinese Water Deer, Hydropotes inermis (x3)
> Reeve’s Muntjac Deer, Muntiacus reevesi (x1)
> Female Marsh Harrier, Circus aeruginosus (x2)
> Male Marsh Harrier, Circus aeruginosus (x1)
> Eurasian otter, Lutra lutra (x1?)
> Mute Swan, Cygnus olor (x8)
> Eurasian Teal, Anas crecca (x~170)
> Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos (x~40)
> Shoveler Duck, Anas clypeata (x2)
> Coot, Fulica atra (x6)
> Female Little Grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis (x1)
> Male Little Grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis (x1)
> Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus (x1)
> Female Grey partridge, Perdix perdix (x3)
> Seven-spot Lady Bird, Coccinella septempunctata (x1)
> Blue Tit, Parus caeruleus (x5)
I would definitely visit the Great Fen again & explore more of the sites, as well as returning to Woodwalton. January’s 12 Months of Wildlife weekend was a great experience & the perfect way to kick off the rest of the year.
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