Muntjacs, known as barking deer, are small deer of the genus Muntiacus. Muntjacs are the most ancient deer, thought to have begun appearing 15–35 million years ago, and can live up to sixteen years of age.

Some of the marsh vegetation is now up to 1.8 metres tall, so its difficult to see these deer: I caught this one strolling along a Lagoon Field hard track this evening.

These are generally solitary deer or found in pairs (doe with kid or buck with doe); pair-bonding does not occur. Bucks defend small exclusive territories against other bucks whereas does’ territories overlap with each other and with several bucks.

Muntjac buck