Assisting exhausted buck in a fight for his life

01.02.12

We came to the rescue of an exhausted fallow deer that was fighting for his life after becoming tangled in electric fence tape in Worcestershire.

The stunning animal was found thrashing about in a field last week in Dunley, Stourport-on-Severn.

Bid for freedom leaves deer exhausted

The buck's will to survive was so strong that he had used all his physical strength in a bid for freedom.

But instead the deer became further entangled and faced dying from exhaustion or being strangled by the tape.

Our animal welfare officer, Steve Davies, attended but the situation was too dangerous to attempt a rescue single-handedly.

 

Fast teamwork saves deer

Vital back up came in the form of Bob Lawrence, director of wildlife at West Midlands Safari Park. Once the deer was sedated the pair worked fast to cut the tape which was attached to a fence post.

It was a wonderful moment to discover the buck wasn't injured. Had he not been found he would have suffered a very slow and agonising death.

Animal welfare officer, Steve said:

There couldn't have been a better outcome to this rescue. But on arrival I thought it really could have gone either way.

The deer was huffing and puffing due to physical exhaustion but the tape was so tightly wrapped around his antlers and more worryingly his neck.

 

Believed to be around six years old, the deer was later released to a secure location with other wild deer.

 

Our rescues

Every year we receive hundreds of thousands of calls about animals in need of rescue. Take a look at some of the predicaments we've rescued animals from recently.

If you witness an animal in distress call our national cruelty line on: 0300 1234 999.