Plan to return red deer to Burren criticised

A proposal to reintroduce red deer into the Burren in a bid to halt the spread of scrub was yesterday dismissed by the chairman of Burren IFA.

In his proposal, Burren expert Gordon D'Arcy said the proposal has obvious conservation advantages and the benefits to the local economy would undoubtedly be significant. "Essentially a woodland species, the red deer would browse the hazel shoots and bark, thus greatly restricting the spread of the scrub."

The spread of scrub is seen by many as a threat to the heritage of the Burren. "Of course, there could be problems as there inevitably are with reintroductions, but careful planning and a programme of consultation with the landowners would help to minimise these," said Mr D'Arcy, who is the author of The Natural History of the Burren.

"The winterage farmers, protective of their precious upland grazing, have been at war with the expanding goat herds. Not only do the goats exploit the easily accessed upland grazing at the expense of the cattle, but they have a reputation for knocking down the dry stone walls, thus exacerbating the problem.

"Would not red deer do the same? Possibly, but to a much lesser extent, in my view."

In the current edition of Heritage Outlook, Mr D'Arcy said the reintroduction of the red deer has historical legitimacy.

"Archaeological and literary evidence shows that red deer was an important long-standing member of the Burren's native fauna, probably since early post-glacial times.

"Detractors will, of course, raise the issue of control. How do you keep such a large independent animal where you want it? Obviously, ring-fencing the Burren with deer fence would be prohibitively expensive and aesthetically undesirable. Though I am not offering a solution to this very real problem, it is my belief that deer would tend to stay where the food is, ie in the scrub."

Mr D'Arcy admits it would be necessary to cull the deer, however.

Meanwhile, Burren IFA chairman Michael Davoren said yesterday: "Red deer has never been part of controlling the spread of hazel in the past in the Burren and we don't see how they can have a role like that in the future."

Mr Davoren said the Burren Life project is the place to put such ideas. "Farmers will not entertain ideas without proper scientific research and we are long enough living on the tales of myths and legends." He said interim evidence from the five-year Burren Life project has proven that farming the Burren properly through the old system will hold the Burren as it is and, coupled with proper grazing, will bring it back to its former glory.

Gordon Deegan
The Irish Times

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