A SPECIES of Chinese deer which is about the size of a fox and barks like a dog, has been illegally introduced into the wild in Ireland.
According to Dr Ruth Carden, a consultant zoologist with the Irish Wildlife Trust, the species, the Chinese muntjac, has already established itself in the southeast.
She blamed "irresponsible and ignorant" hunters for bringing the deer to Ireland, probably from Britain. She said the Chinese or Reeves' muntjac has the capacity to cause enormous damage to habitat and crops, and will be impossible to control.
"There had been reports that the species, which is about the size of a fox and is often mistaken for a fox as it barks like a dog, had been brought in here illegally four or five years ago," she said.
She said the first release seemed to have been in south Wexford and the animals were spotted along the banks of the river Slaney. In the last year or two, she said, two of the muntjac had been shot by hunters in the Annamoe/Avoca area of Co Wicklow.
"Their introduction was selfish, ignorant and totally illegal and was probably done by hunters not realising the impact it would have," she said. She said the muntjac, which was the size of a fox, and weighed between 15kg and 20kg, was a small animal which could easily hide in bracken and was difficult to see.
"They become sexually mature at six months so there is no closed breeding season as they breed within weeks of birthing. They also live for about 15 years," she said.
"They create the same problems as other deer species and like all kinds of woodland and young roots. They will eat farm crops and are very opportunistic," she added.
She said it would be very difficult to eradicate the species because it appeared it had now established itself here and there had been reports that the species had also been introduced in Northern Ireland.
She said the deer muntiacus reevesi had been brought into Britain in 1900.
Dr Carden appealed to any members of the public who spot the new species to e-mail her at ruthfcarden@gmail.com.