Chinese Water Deer

Only introduced to the UK in the late nineteenth century, the Chinese water deer is a shy and enigmatic species that, since escaping from deer parks, has established itself in the wild mainly in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk. Considered one of the leading experts on these tusked deer – which are native to fertile river bottoms in Korea and the Yangtze River (Chang Jiang) valley in China – Paul Childerley has written an authoritative, all-encompassing guide that explains how these diminutive Asian deer have adapted to life in certain parts of the country, and how best to manage them now and in the future.

A respected estate and deer manager, who has nurtured a growing population of Chinese water deer in Bedfordshire for nearly thirty years, Paul’s love and respect for these animals shines through in the detailed knowledge imparted in this book – from exclusive insights from the Woburn archives, revealing how the 11th Duke of Bedford first imported them to this country, through to their unique lifestyle, unusual habits and mannerisms, to how to stalk them and enjoy eating their sweet and tender venison.

The book also charts Paul’s love of nature from growing up as a gamekeeper’s son in Gloucestershire, to his own career as a keeper turned estate and deer manager, writer and presenter. In addition, it features a series of interviews with other land managers, deer experts, a deer poacher, a chef, a butcher and a step-by-step guide on how best to prepare the finest Chinese water deer venison.

This engaging and beautifully illustrated account reveals everything you need to know about Chinese water deer, written in an easily accessible way by a lifelong countryman, who works with the species every day.