The water deer (from 'hydro', meaning water, and 'pote', meaning foot), sometimes called the marsh deer, water stag or vampire deer, lives in wetlands where it feeds on aquatic plants and swims very well from island to island.

Solitary, the male defends his territory against any rival, especially during the rutting season, and tolerates only the presence of females.

Unlike other deer species, which have one or two fawns per litter, the waterbuck can exceptionally give birth to up to six youngs! However, mortality rates are high, with more than 40% of newborns dying during their first month.

The waterbuck is the only deer species that does not have antlers. Its reddish-brown coat darkens in winter.

The male has long canines that he uses when fighting rivals. These fangs can measure up to 10 cm, with 5 cm protruding from the upper jaw! The females' fangs are much shorter.

With its canines, it resembles Eumeryx, the first deer species that lived 30 million years ago in Asia.

The main causes of the decline of the waterbuck in its natural habitat are poaching and habitat destruction, which fragments its territory. It is sought after for its meat, but also for the milk collected from the stomachs of young animals, which is used in traditional medicine. There is an urgent need to create reserves and corridors to connect isolated populations.

The water vole was introduced into English parks in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Since then, their populations have continued to grow, and some escaped individuals have colonised the surrounding wetlands.

In France, in the Limousin region, during the 1960s, a few hydropotes from a park formed a small, discreet wild population.