School of Conservation Sciences

Deer project is One to watch on the BBC

BU on ‘The One Show’

TV feature to highlight work of the University in gauging the ecological impact of Sika deer in the Purbeck region of Dorset.

Research led by staff and students from BU’s School of Conservation Sciences on the ecology of Sika deer is scheduled to be highlighted on BBC TV’s ‘The One Show’ later this month.

The feature, to be screened on Tuesday, 20 April, will focus on the work of Dr Anita Diaz and her colleagues from the University’s Centre for Conservation Ecology and Environmental Change. The Centre is investigating how Sika deer influence a range of habitats in Purbeck, Dorset. A number of deer have been electronically tagged and monitored in recent years providing the Centre with an opportunity to examine their feeding ranges and measure their ecological impacts.

The project has involved extensive liaison between the University and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, the National Trust, the Purbeck Association of the National Trust the Ministry of Defence, English Nature and Biotrack to electronically tag and monitor the deer and to investigate the ways they influence a range of habitats.

Sika were first introduced to deer parks in Dorset from their native Japan and East Asia just over a hundred years ago. A few individuals escaped and the Isle of Purbeck, to the west of Bournemouth, now has the largest group of feral Sika deer in England.

The Purbecks contain a rich mosaic of internationally-important wildlife habitats and it is crucial to determine the impact of Sika on plants and invertebrates that are important food sources for waterfowl.

The One Show is televised on BBC One at 7.00pm. The programme can also be viewed online via the BBC iplayer (UK only).