Captivity in cages at the old defunct Belle Isle Zoo. This was taken
in 2006 and now the deer have disappeared even from there. A terrible
thing has been done to the deer and to the people of Detroit and no
one has even noticed.
It has been suggested that these are fallow deer and they do look more like fallow than Formosan. (See comments below for more info).
Update: Visit the New Deer Encounter
Twenty-five fallow deer that once roamed the island are enjoying a new one-acre enclosure and barn at the Belle Isle Nature Zoo. The exhibit is part of a multi-phase project to convert the former nature center on Belle Isle into a Nature Zoo focusing on Michigan wildlife, flora and fauna. See the Complete Story
I knew about the ones in the enclosure, which is not like being free.
And Belle Isle has NO natural ecosystem, it's one big mess of invasive aliens anyway. It's a city park. We've been robbed! It's got lawns and picnic tables and a woods full of trash and nonnative alien plants. Granted, there are a few native species, but nothing particularly endangered. There are maples. Spicebush. Oaks.
"They took all the trees and put them in a tree museum
And charged all the people a dollar and a half just to see 'em.
Don't it always seem to go
that you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone
They paved paradise and put up a parking lot." Joni Mitchell
Now for a "nominal fee"--you can see the deer in an enclosure. Of course, you have to pay every time you want to see them. Before, you could see them free every time you went there. Guess how many times I've been in to see them since they got moved?* Guess how well-to-do the majority of the population of Detroit that uses Belle Isle is?**
(*never. But I loved to see them when they were free.)
(**Inner city Detroit is very poor.)
Something to think about: The commenter below mentioned that some of the Fallow deer have been moved to Royal Oak, so I googled Fallow deer Royal Oak and got THIS: Peppered haunch of fallow deer with creamed spinach! I'm absolutely serious and not kidding--I hope that's not where are deer are going!
14 comments:
What beautiful looking creatures! Where are they now?
Mon Dieu, I hope they have not killed them!
Thanks so much Anonymous and Marie!
The city is not forthcoming with what they have done or why, but my guess is they sold them or transferred them to a zoo. This I suppose would be better than death maybe, but living free on the island was better--unless they were dying of some dread disease.
I do not know where they are and so far have been unable to find out. A few are held in captivity at the new Belle Isle Nature Zoo. Where the rest are I do not know.
You noticed, Mary and now you've brought it to our attention too.
I'm very sad. Thanks, Annie!
Mary, are your posts showing on the portal? I don't see them.
thank you for your visit . wow , i never saw someone with so many blogs . congratulations .
I ahven't seen my posts in there lately, Fenix, I don't know why, I've been posting every day. Do you have to re-sign up if you miss a couple days or soemthing? I have no idea. They were showing up. I don't know what to do about it.
Hey, Ro-Pumpkin, I have WAY too many blogs. I don't like it and would like to cut back and consolidate, BUT that takes time which is in short supply.
It's really too bad and even more sad that the city isn't talking.
That's part of what makes me worry about it. :-(
a few are in Royal Oak and the rest are on a preserve up north. They are Fallow Deer
I had written down Formosan Deer because I am new in town and that's what I'd been TOLD, but after your comment, I did some research and they are look more like Fallow deer than Formosan deer, except how come they don't have spots? I need to do more research, obviously, and not trust what I thought were reliable sources!
BUT, why were they moved off Belle Isle? We miss them. I hope they have lots of space at Royal Oak (wherever that is, and at their preserve.
Oh deer! I used to live next door to a deer farm which looked better than that zoo! Peppered haunch of fallow deer with creamed spinach!?!?! No thank you!
That may be a total coincidence. (Or it may not). But it WAS the first thing that came up when I googled Royal Oak and Fallow deer.
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