Do you consider pheasants and muntjac to be British animals?

14 comments

1. I don’t really think of species as having nationalities tbh.

2. They’ve been here so long, I consider them native.

   Otherwise, there’s a load of things we should consider non-native, carp for a start.

3. Well they aren’t indigenous. Not sure you can really apply nationality to an animal though!

   But as they are non-indigenous that does mean pheasant would probably eventually die out if they weren’t bred and wild populations regularly topped up.

   Muntjac are thriving though. We’ve a good niche for deer and most types do well without a natural predator.

4. Muntjac, definitely not. They were only introduced to the UK in the 20th century and are confined to the SE of the UK, though seem to be spreading.

5. Pheasants are farmed then transported to shooting estates so I don’t consider them naturalised in the way muntjac deer are.

6. I consider pheasants to be an unexciting minor nuisance so yes I guess?

7. I don’t think twice about rabbits, rats, or little owls, so I suppose pheasants are fine as well. I didn’t know we had muntjac in the UK, but if they’re naturalised then they’re no different to the other four

8. Pheasants were apparently introduced here in the 11th century. I’d say almost 1000 years is enough to be considered native enough. They’re probably more British than many Brits living today.

9. Unlike Peacocks, which were selectively bred from common wood pigeons.

10. Just pheasants, but only because I don’t recall The Animals of Farthing Wood having any muntjac deer.

11. I’ll be honest with you, I can’t pronounce or even know what the 2nd one is

12. Pheasants were introduced to Europe by the Romans ffs lol I think they even introduced mint to the the British isles!

13. Pheasants yes – I consider them very standard in rural UK.

    Muntjac probably less so – I don’t think theyve got to the West midlands yet

14. What the fuck is a muntjac