Year: 2020, Number: 3, Pages: 35-40
In 2019, the Water deer (Hydropotes inermis) was described from the territory of the national park “Land of the Leopard” as a new species for Russia. Its population is very small (less than 170 animals) and inhabits limited area in Khasansky district of Primorsky province (about 100 thousands hectares). We got anonymous reports about occasional shooting of water deer by poachers and legal hunters, confusing with Roe deer. Stray dogs, grassland fires and severe snowfalls threaten the newly settled species. We recommend implement emergency protection measures and enlist Water deer into the Red Data Book of Russian Federation.