Chinese water deer rescued from UK reservoir
Plastic sheeting made the reservoir slippery and hazardous for the Chinese water deer.
A Chinese water deer, which is typically native to China and Korea, has been rescued from a reservoir hole in Cambridgeshire.
The RSPCA was alerted to the deer on Wednesday, 7 October, after it was spotted at a farm in Chatteris.
It had been found in a hole that was partly filled with water, although it was unclear how deep it was. Some of the area was covered in thick mud and the steep sides were covered in plastic sheeting which was slippery and hazardous.
The scene was attended by the RSPCA’s Animal Rescue Officer John Woods, who also contacted Cambridge Fire and Rescue for support.
Mr Woods said: “This poor deer couldn’t climb out of the hole and was completely stuck. The Chatteris and Dogsthorpe crew kindly attended and helped use their ladders to get into the reservoir and get the deer out.
“The deer was active and well with no injuries and soon made a swift exit as soon as they had been freed. Not even a nod, a wink or a polite thank you after all that effort! Seriously though, it’s the highlight of our job being able to save and release animals back into the wild like this.”
The Chinese water deer is a small species, recognisable from having distinctive tusks instead of antlers. Although native to China and Korea, the deer also reside in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk after they escaped from zoos in the 1800s and 1900s.
Their preferred habitats are reed beds, river shores, woodland and fields.
Mr Woods added: “I’d like to say a massive thank you to Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service for coming to the rescue and helping get the job done. It’s a great reminder of what we can achieve together for animal welfare”
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
