In 1861, an English lord sent three red deer to New Zealand for sport; the animals later multiplied into a costly pest

What began as an aristocratic gift intended to enhance New Zealand’s hunting grounds eventually became a major ecological management challenge. According to Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand , the first successful introduction of red deer occurred in 1861, when Lord Petre sent three deer from England to Nelson. Following the introduction, the animals flourished in New Zealand’s predator-free forests and mountains, where abundant vegetation and the lack of large mammalian herbivores allowed them to expand rapidly. Over the following decades, repeated introductions transformed red deer from a prized animal for sports into one of New Zealand’s most invasive mammals, thus majorly altering native ecosystems.

Get breaking news anytime, anywhere. Download the TOI app now!