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    The Red Deer's ancestors have survived rough winters since the Ice Age. Foraging for food in the spectacular forests and hills of Scotland, the deer has managed to survive where other animals have not.But the Red Deer's very habitat is threatened - and this is not a new phenomena. Wildlife in the woodlands of Scotland have suffered ever since the numbers of people began increasing centuries ago. The forests, which offered food and protection to the wildlife, began to diminish as they were cleared for agriculture, hunting and sheep grazing. Clearing led to the extinction of reindeer, elk, brown bears, wild boars and the wolf. And the Red Deer population began diminishing as early as the 1700s. The losses stalled in the 19th century when rich landowners - seduced by the thrill of the hunt - purchased vast tracks of land, where only they could chase down the deer. In 1912, these ranges equaled 1.5 million hectares (5,800 square miles). During this period, ordinary people could no longer kill the Red Deer for food and their numbers actually increased to 300,000 by the late 1980s. But the difficulty of maintaining the species has only changed not disappeared. During the 20th century, as the Scottish woodlands disappeared, so did the deer's natural predators. Greater numbers of deer depleted their food resources and the land was unable to sustain them. Many starved to death in the harsh Scottish winters. Conservationists had to find a way to manage the wilderness and the wildlife. Culling - the killing of animals to lessen their numbers - is an important part of Red Deer and environment management. There are three types of cull: sport or regulated hunting by landowners; protection or elimination of animals to protect agriculture and forestry interests; and management that removes sick and injured animals. Culling ensures that Red Deer levels are sustainable. During the last few decades New Zealand, Great Britain and the United States have started Red Deer farming for their antler velvet which is used in traditional medicines. A United Nations treaty to save endangered species, such as the Red Deer, is one of the world's largest conservation agreements. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) administers, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). It is part of a global effort to protect the planet and the animals that inhabit it. To date, 160 governments are bound to the Convention, which offers varying protection to more than 35,000 species of animals and plants. Not a single species protected by CITES has gone extinct since the agreement began in 1975.
LEARN MORE how the UN works with its partners around the world to save endangered species. Go to the links at the side of the page. |
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