Sika deer are contiguous with populations of the native red deer. Since the two species sometimes hybridize, a serious conservation concern exists. In research which rated the negative impact of introduced mammals in Europe, the sika deer was found to be among the most damaging to the environment and economy, along with the brown rat and muskrat. In the 1900s, King Edward VII presented a pair of sika deer to John, the second Baron Montagu of Beaulieu. This pair escaped into Sowley Wood and were the basis of the sika to be found in the New Forest today. They were so prolific,
Breed type carriage) that are felt to indicate excellence in members of a group" and is different from a "type of animal", meaning a variety or breed of domesticated animal. Breed type Breed type is the whole of the characteristics that are typical of a breed of domesticated animals. Breed type may include details of form or color that are not directly related to the economic value of the animal, and are usually defined in breed standards. "Examples [of "breed type"] include the shape of horns and the color pattern in cattle, the shape of ear in swine, and the color of