Rusa deer, which are native to Indonesia, were mistakenly introduced to New Zealand in 1907, under the impression that they were sambar deer. Eight were liberated near Rotorua, and by the 1990s rusa occupied 565 square kilometres in the area. In other countries rusa deer can be very vocal. In New Zealand they are generally silent – probably to avoid being detected by hunters.
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand
Reference:
Carolyn M. King, ed., Handbook of New Zealand mammals. Melbourne, Auckland: Oxford University Press, 2005, plate 13
Artwork by Priscilla Barrett
This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.
Tāpiritia te tākupu hou