|
Dale deer on Haringvreter Island in Veerse Meer Lake, Zeeland, the Netherlands, 28 September 2025. The small Haringvreter Island has been overrun by a rapidly growing herd of fallow deer, with reports estimating the population to be as high as 700, stripping vegetation, driving away nesting birds, and even seen swimming to the mainland. Ecologists believe the island can only sustainably support about 150 deer. To restore balance to the ecosystem, the 'Staatsbosbeheer' (State Forestry Service) is now implementing population management strategies, primarily through winter culling, while experts are debating alternative methods, such as translocation or sterilization. (Photo by Olivier Hoslet/EPA)
|
