BIOMETRICS & PARTRIDGES - NATIONAL GAMEBAG CENSUS | 4 Figure 2


Index of sika deer shot per km² on NGC sites across the UK, 1984-2015


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KEY FINDINGS 1 0 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010


abundance and expanding range of the species, probably helped by a combination of underculling of females, improved food resources through afforestation, milder winters leading to better over-winter survival and reduced competition with hill sheep. The maturation of forestry and intraspecific competition may explain the decline apparent over the last 10 years.


Sika deer (Figure 2) Sika deer, originating from Japan, Taiwan and the adjacent Chinese mainland, were intro- duced into British deer parks from 1860 onwards. Since then many escaped and the species is now widespread across northern and western Scotland, the Scottish Borders, Cumbria, Lancashire, Hampshire/Dorset and the western part of Northern Ireland. In all 70 NGC sites have reported sika deer, with sufficient records to evaluate trends since 1984. The bag index shows a doubling by 2010, followed by a possible decline (error bars are too large to draw firm conclusions). The increase matches what is known about the on-going range expansion and increasing abundance of sika deer.


Fallow deer (Figure 3) Fallow deer were re-established in England in the 11th century after going extinct in Britain during the last Ice Age. It is currently widespread across England and Wales and


Since 1961, numbers of red, sika, fallow and roe deer shot increased by two to seven times, but seem to have stabi- lised in recent years or even declined (red deer). Numbers of muntjac shot show a spectacular 15-fold increase, with no evidence of stabilisation, in line with its expansion and increasing abundance across England. Since 1993, NGC records include a sparse but increasing range of sites that have shot Chinese water deer and wild boar, reflecting their establish- ment and spread in different parts of Britain.


Nicholas Aebischer


Sika deer, originating from the Far East, were introduced into British deer parks from 1860 onwards. © Dave Kjaer


www.gwct.org.uk


GAME & WILDLIFE REVIEW 2016 | 41


Bag index (1984=1)


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