Water Deer

In the South Korean Army, besides North Korea, various subjects are also stipulated as an ‘enemy.’ Let me give you an example. The weather could be one of the extreme enemies. In summer, soldiers have to work at least 5 hours a day mowing outside the base in sunny weather; otherwise, it may be an irritating obstacle in various situations. In the hot and humid weather in South Korea, which is the best environment for grass to grow, mowing for several hours leads to soldiers experiencing nausea, dizziness, and dehydration. Moreover, a bunch of pests appear that could damage people, especially those who sweat a lot, like sweaty soldiers. 

For this essay, however, I am not here to talk about summer. ( I will try to deal with it in the next essay.) I am going to deal with another strong enemy, might be more notorious than summer, which is

Water Deer.

Image of a Water Deer

A deer? You might be thinking, But stick with me—we’ll get through this. Before diving into how water deer affect the army, let’s take a quick look at what they are. Water deer, known scientifically as Hydropotes inermis, are classified as an endangered species globally. The water deer gets its name because it prefers to live near water. Water deer are found only in Korea and central China, making them internationally rare and protected, and with an estimated 700,000 living in South Korea alone, they make up over 85% of the global population.

So, why are there so many in Korea?

Well, one major reason is that their natural predators—like tigers and leopards—have gone extinct or disappeared from the region, making it much easier for water deer to survive and reproduce. This is a classic case of predator release, a phenomenon where prey species thrive in the absence of their natural enemies. On top of that, because they’re listed as endangered by international standards, they’re now protected by wildlife laws. In the past, they were hunted, but today, illegal poaching is far less common.

Water deer are also experts at adapting. They thrive in areas with lots of grass, forests, and hills, which makes Korea, with its mountainous landscape (about 70% of the country), a perfect fit.  Plus, they can handle cold weather pretty well, which helps them stay active year-round. The ideal weather for the deer leads to an ideal place to reproduce. It sometimes gives birth to more than two fawns at once, and for these reasons, despite being endangered globally, they’re often considered a nuisance in Korea. Strange, right?

Now we have to delve into why exactly water deer are harmful to us.

Let’s talk about what water deer do.

 First, they are good at headbutting. Water deer use headbutting as a form of territorial behavior and communication, especially during mating season when males compete for dominance. GOP (General Outpost), which is the place I work, has the main task of inspecting the barbed-wire fences that separate North and South Korea. But headbutting isn’t the only issue. Water deer sometimes chew on the lower parts of the fence — likely mistaking them for vegetation. When they bite into the wrong wire, such as an electrified line, the result can be fatal, often leaving their bodies behind at the site. Thanks to water deer and their behavior, we often end up doing repair work. 

There are just too many of them in Korea, and roadkill accidents are incredibly common. It’s estimated that around 160,000 water deer die each year in Korea, with about 30,000 killed by road accidents alone, which shows how their increasing population affects both wildlife and humans. Their crepuscular activity patterns, being most active at dawn and dusk, unfortunately, coincide with peak traffic times, increasing the risk of collisions. They also have a herbivorous diet that prefers tender young leaves, shoots, and grasses, which makes them frequent crop raiders. Their feeding habits cause significant agricultural damage; in 2016 alone, losses due to water deer were estimated at 2.46 billion won (roughly 2 million USD). Their high reproductive rate—females can give birth to two or more fawns per litter—contributes to rapid population growth, exacerbating the problem.

And then… there’s the sound. It’s weird. I’ve linked a YouTube video—please give it a listen. Their vocalizations—sharp, high-pitched shrieks and whistles—function as alarm calls to alert others to potential danger. To human ears, however, especially those of soldiers stationed in the stillness of night, the sound can be deeply unsettling. It's eerie enough that I sometimes wake thinking they’ve encountered something ghostly. Recently, North Korea has begun broadcasting strange noises—including sirens and ghostlike sounds—through loudspeakers at night to psychologically unnerve South Korean troops. But honestly, in my personal opinion, nothing is scarier than the cry of a water deer. That is not the only sound they produce. On occasion, when a deer inadvertently triggers a landmine, the resulting explosion is so sudden and loud that we must assess whether it was caused by a stray animal or the movement of a North Korean soldier.

In other words, it’s extra work for us.

A photo of a water deer caught in barbed wire

In the end, in this essay, I did not expect the water deer to have this much damage to human life. But in reflecting on their story, I’ve come to realize that, in many ways, humans are creating their adversaries. Landmines, the elimination of predators, and the endless expansion of roads inside the country, invading animal habitats, were originally made for human comfort. Tonight, writing this essay reminded me of how deeply we must consider every choice we make as humans. The sound of a water deer crying after stepping on a landmine—once just an irritation in the night—has become something I can no longer ignore.