St Andrews Ideas for Free Time (4)
Scottish Deer Centre
Opening Times
Sunday - Saturday 10:00am – 5:00pm
Admission Fees:
Adults £7.45
Children £4.95
Children Under 3 Free
Concessions £5.95
Family 2+2 £23.00
Family 2+3 £27.00
Daily Events
Ranger tours at 11am & 1pm
Bird of Prey demo at 12, 2 & 4pm
Otter Feeding 1.45pm
Wolf Feeding 3pm (except Friday)
Wildcat Feeding 3:20pm
Fox Feeding 3.30pm
Introduction
The Scottish Deer Centre is set in the Fife countryside and covers over 55 acres. The collection includes 14 species of Deer from around the world, Fife's only Wolf pack, Otters and other rare Scottish species including the Wildcat. There is also Raptor World Bird of Prey Centre.
Activities
At the Scottish Deer Centre you will find daily tours and feeding events which are detailed here. All the activities listed here are for your enjoyment and are included in your entry fee with the exception of the trailer rides which are £1.00 per person.
It's aimed to fill your day with Educational Ranger contact and visual displays where possible whilst also allowing you time to explore the park. All the Ranger activities are aimed towards conservation and are suitable for all age groups. 1. Guided Tour - An introduction to Deer species from around the world and the diversity of challenges they face.
2. Nose 2 Nose - 15 minutes in with a hand reared deer covering adaptations to life in the wild of Scotland. This activity also covers antler growth and development.
3. Birds of Prey - Demonstrations daily looking into this long existing practice and explaining the relationship of hunting with raptors in medieval times.
4. Otter Feeding - Introduction to the biology and habitat needs of the Otter.
5. Carnivore Feed Walk and Talk - starting with the Wolves we explain the impacts on the food chain and habitats since the loss of this top predator. Next the Wildcats plight within Scotland is explained and the conservation efforts being made. We finish at the Red Fox describing its tenacity despite persecution and the relations it shares with very young deer.
6. Trailer Rides - A trip around the world and taking in our rarest Deer species promoting their conservation. (£1.00/person)
7. Indoor Play Area - For when things get a little wet outside.
8. Adventure Playground - A vast play area with a sand pit and fort. Zip Slide and Static Slide.
9. Treetop Walk - Take a walk through Witches Wood with a birds eye view and keep an eye open for our native Red Squirrels and other species.
10. Woodland Walks. - If it's too hot in the sun. Take a short stroll through Witches Wood and Wolf Wood under the green canopy of our native trees.
Education
The Scottish Deer Centre prides their selves on the years of experience and knowledge which make the tours so fun and informative, and it shows in the enthusiasm of their Rangers. Whether you’re bringing along the family for a special day out or organising a group visit, they cater to all types of groups to make sure that you take home not only fantastic memories, but a greater understanding of the natural world.
They always strive to educate on the environmental conservation of animals and their habitats by providing a stimulating look into the natural world of Scotland and beyond.
And as every one of our Rangers knows, kids always learn more when they’re enjoying themselves!
Animals
Deer
Axis
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Axis axis
Adult Stag Shoulder Height: 80-100 cm (31-40 in)
HABITAT: In their native country of India, Axis deer are natural forest dwellers.
DISTRIBUTION: Indigenous throughout India and Sri Lanka.
CONSERVATION STATUS: Least concern
Bactrian
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Cervus elaphus bactrianus
Adult Stag Shoulder Height 120 cm (47 in)
HABITAT: Bactrian deer live in lowland riparian corridors of mixed deciduous Willow and poplar vegetation surrounded by deserts.
DISTRIBUTION: The Bactrian deer, also called the Bukhara deer, is a lowland subspecies of Red Deer that is native to central Asia.
CONSERVATION STATUS: Vulnerable.
Barasingha
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Rucervus duvaucelii
Adult Stag Shoulder Height up to 132 cm or 52 inches
HABITAT: The Barasingha occupies a wide variety of forest types, including dry and moist deciduous forest, mangrove forest and evergreen forest, but its prime habitat in the past has been grasslands and reed beds bordering the major rivers in the northern part of its range.
DISTRIBUTION: The Barasingha is currently found in isolated localities in north and central India, and south-western Nepal. It is extinct in Pakistan and Bangladesh.
CONSERVATION STATUS: Vulnerable.
Chinese Water Deer
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Hydropotes inermis
Adult Buck Shoulder Height 50-55cm (19-21 in)
HABITAT: They frequent the tall reeds, rushes along rivers, and in tall grass on mountains and cultivated fields as well as swampy regions and open grasslands.
DISTRIBUTION: Water deer are indigenous to the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, coastal Jiangsu province and islands of Zhejiang of east-central China, and in Korea, where the demilitarized zone has provided a protected habitat for a large number.
CONSERVATION STATUS: The British population is thought to account for 10% of the world's population. The population in China is considered to be 'Vulnerable'.
Fallow
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Dama Dama
Adult Buck Shoulder Height 81 – 91 cm (32-36 in)
HABITAT: Fallow have adapted to a range of habitats, however in Britain they prefer mixed patches of pastures and deciduous or mixed woodland.
DISTRIBUTION: Indigenous to the Mediterranean region of southern Europe. Feral distribution includes the British Isles, many European Countries, North America, South America, Australasia, Africa and the West Indies.
CONSERVATION STATUS: Least concern.
Hog
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Axis porcinus
Adult Stag Shoulder Height 66-74 cm (26-29 in)
HABITAT: Hog deer favour grasslands and swampy areas, especially reed
beds and prairies crossed by streams and rivers.
DISTRIBUTION: Indigenous to North India, Burma and Sri Lanka.
CONSERVATION STATUS: Endangered, decreasing.
Muntjac
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Muntiacus reevesi
Adult Buck Shoulder Height 45-50cm (17-19 in)
HABITAT: Reeves Muntjac can be found in the sub-tropical forests of southern China. In Britain however, they prefer small copses with plenty of cover.
DISTRIBUTION: Reeves Muntjac are just one of at least six species of Muntjac distributed throughout South East Asia. Originally from China, Reeves Muntjac were introduced to Britain around the beginning of the 20th Century.
CONSERVATION STATUS: No stats available.
Pere David
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Elapharus davidianus
Adult Stag Shoulder Height: 114-122cm (45-48 in)
HABITAT: Very little is known about the natural habitat of these deer. By the time they became known to the western world in 1865, they were already extinct in the wild.
DISTRIBUTION: In captivity, over 400 at Woburn and found in zoos worldwide. Re-introduced to China in 1986.
CONSERVATION STATUS: Critically Endangered.
Red
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Cervus elaphus
Adult Stag Shoulder Height: 100-140com (40-55in)
HABITAT: Native to Britain, Red Deer would have been found many centuries ago dwelling in the great Caledonian forest that would have covered Scotland, however, due to mass deforestation and changing land use, these deer are more commonly found in upland, moorland areas, such as the Scottish Highlands.
DISTRIBUTION: Indigenous throughout Europe and parts of Asia. Feral distribution includes Africa, Australia, New Zealand, South America and the USA.
CONSERVATION STATUS: Least Concern, increasing.
Reindeer
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Rangifer tarandus caribou
Adult Bull Shoulder Height: 112 cm (44 in).
HABITAT: Reindeer graze throughout the year in the permanently frozen grounds of the tundra. Tundra is the relatively flat land between the polar ice cap and the timberline, where the temperatures are too cold for trees to grow. Because of the tundra's constant frosty conditions, only shrubs, grasses and lichens survive there. Lichen, also referred to as reindeer moss, is similar to moss in appearance and is a combination of algae.
DISTRIBUTION: They are found in the wild in only two areas of the Fennoscandia peninsula of Northern Europe, in Finnish/Russian Karelia and there is a small population in central south Finland.
CONSERVATION STATUS: Least Concern, stable.
Roe
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Capreolus capreolus
Adult Buck Shoulder Height 65cm-78cm (25-29in)
HABITAT: Woodland, forest, grazing in forest clearings and adjoining fields.
DISTRIBUTION: Indigenous in the British Isles (excluding Ireland) and most European Countries. Roe have been reintroduced to Southern England.
CONSERVATION STATUS: Least Concern, increasing.
Sika
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Cervus nippon
Adult Stag Shoulder Height: 80cm to 100cm (31-40cm)
HABITAT: Sika live almost exclusively in forests and only venture on to
more open ground in search for food.
DISTRIBUTION: 13 subspecies indigenous throughout Eastern Asia. Feral in
many parts of Europe including large areas of Scotland.
CONSERVATION STATUS: Least Concern, increasing.
Wapiti
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Cervus canadensis
Adult Bull Shoulder Height:140cm to 150 cm (55-59 in).
HABITAT: Live in open country, forests and parklands, high country (mountains)
DISTRIBUTION: Wapiti or Elk have a wide range in North America and Asia and have been introduced into New Zealand and Australia.
CONSERVATION STATUS: Least Concern, stable.
White Lipped
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Cervus Przewalskium albirostris
Adult Stag Shoulder Height: 115 to 140 cm (45 to 55 in).
HABITAT: Open, mountainous terrain, ranging from forest edges to grassland alpine meadows above the treeline. It is found at elevations of 3,500 to 5,100 metres (11,500 to 16,700 ft).
DISTRIBUTION: Tibetan Plateau in China, the Himalayas and the mountains of southwestern China
CONSERVATION STATUS: Vulnerable.
Facilities
Toilets and baby changing facilities.
Picnic areas, inside and outside
Handwash stations throughout park
First Aid point
Refreshment kiosk
