Three fallow deer from Hamburg's Hirschpark have been relocated to the Klövensteen reserve. The decision was made after fatal fights between males occurred in the old park, and one of them had to be euthanized. The animals have been moved to a six-hectare area where they will be monitored in a smaller enclosure before being released into the entire territory. The reason for the relocation was the inability to ensure animal welfare in the previous location, where there was a lack of females, and tourists and dogs disturbed the deer.
Relocation to a new reserve
Three fallow deer from Hirschpark in Hamburg's Nienstedten district were relocated to the Klövensteen reserve. The animals tolerated the transport well and are currently in a smaller, designated enclosure before moving to the six-hectare area.
Reasons for the decision
The relocation was necessary because animal welfare could not be ensured in the old park. The lack of females led to brutal fights between males during the mating season, resulting in one deer dying and another being euthanized after sustaining injuries.
Problems in the old park
In addition to fights between males, the deer were exposed to stress caused by a large number of visitors until late evening hours, the presence of dogs, and a lack of shelter places. Construction works undertaken in 2023 and 2024 did not improve the situation.
The authorities of the Altona district in Hamburg have relocated three fallow deer from Hirschpark in Nienstedten to the larger and more suitable Klövensteen reserve. The decision came after a series of incidents that made it impossible to continue ensuring animal welfare in the previous location. The animals tolerated the transport well and are currently in a smaller, designated enclosure within the reserve for red deer. After an adaptation and observation period, they will be able to use the entire six-hectare area. The direct cause of the relocation was fatal fights between males that occurred during the mating season. The old park had no females, leading to aggressive behavior and conflicts. As a result, one deer died, and another, severely injured, had to be euthanized. The fallow deer, a species introduced in many regions of Europe, is a herd animal with distinct sexual dimorphism. Males, called bucks, during the rut (from September to October) engage in fierce fights for access to does, which in captivity, with a lack of females and limited space, can lead to serious injuries and death. However, the problems in Hirschpark were not limited to intraspecific behavior. As reported by the district office, the deer were exposed to constant stress due to the large number of visitors who came to the park until late evening and night hours. The presence of dogs and the lack of appropriate, quiet shelter places further worsened the animals' situation. Construction works undertaken in 2023 and 2024, aimed at improving conditions, proved insufficient to guarantee peace and safety for the deer. The new home in the Klövensteen reserve is intended to provide the animals with conditions closer to natural. Six hectares of space offer much greater opportunities for exploration and avoiding potential sources of stress. The relocation serves as an example of local administration actions in response to animal welfare problems in urban parks and zoos, where a lack of adequate space and a balanced herd structure can lead to serious consequences.