GPS tech to track red deer in Scottish Highlands
There is much debate on how to handle biodiversity and land management objectives.
A new project will track red deer movement and behaviour in the Scottish Highlands, with the help of GPS technology.
It is hoped that the new initiative will improve researchers’ understanding of red deer behaviour and improve their welfare.
Large populations of red deer are challenging conservationists’ abilities to support the large-scale natural regeneration of natural woodlands. This has caused much debate on how to handle ecological health, biodiversity and land management objectives.
The Scottish government seeks to halt biodiversity loss by 2030, however researchers believe there is a lack of data to support land management decisions.
The project has involved researchers from the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, the Roslin Institute and Durham University, with support from the charity Affric Highlands. Through this collaboration, the team has devised protocols to safely catch, collar and release red deer stags in the Scottish Highlands.
GPS tags will now be fitted on 22 red deer stags across the West Highlands. There will also be six GPS ear tags fitted on deer calves to provide data on doe movement, with plans to tag more calves in the spring.
The project team will now work with landowners and deer managers across Highland estates, encouraging informed and sustainable deer management.
Tracking the movement of red deer is expected to provide new insights to manage deer densities and protect woodlands and peatlands. It will also highlight the habitats chosen by red deer during rutting, calving and foraging. Experts will conduct habitat surveys in areas where deer have foraged or sheltered, as they seek to understand their impact.
It is hoped that the data collected by the collars will lead to more informed decisions on deer health, population levels and habitat conservation.
Neil Anderson, senior lecturer at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, said: “Red deer are an iconic native species and play an important role in the ecology of upland ecosystems in Scotland.
“Working with red deer in remote mountain environments can be challenging and it has been a rewarding experience providing veterinary support for this project, to ensure that high standards of welfare and care are achieved.”
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