Overview

• Habitat fragmentation from roads and settlements has isolated red deer populations, causing genetic impoverishment and inbreeding.
• A 2022 study by the University of Göttingen revealed critically low genetic diversity, with only two red deer populations large enough to avoid inbreeding risks.
• Documented malformations, such as jaw deformities and misaligned teeth, have increased among red deer due to inbreeding.
• Conservationists are calling for a national network of at least 100 wildlife corridors to restore connectivity and gene flow among isolated populations.
• The Schleswig-Holstein Ministry of Agriculture has initiated a regional wildlife crossing plan to address habitat connectivity and protect biodiversity.