Becoming a lot more common in Sussex, the Reeves's muntjac deer, also known as the Chinese muntjac or barking deer, is a small but fascinating species of deer native to East Asia. With its distinctive barking call that echoes through the forest, it has earned its peculiar nickname. These deer typically stand around 20 inches tall at the shoulder and have a reddish-brown coat with white markings on their face and throat.

The Reeves's muntjac is an adaptable and elusive creature, often found in dense woodlands and thickets, where it feeds on a variety of vegetation, including leaves, fruits, and flowers. Due to their excellent camouflage and shy nature, spotting these elusive deer in the wild can be quite a challenge for wildlife enthusiasts.

One unique characteristic of the male Reeves's muntjac is its short, unbranched antlers, which can be quite sharp during the breeding season. They use these antlers to establish dominance and compete for mates. Females typically give birth to a single fawn after a gestation period of about seven months.