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Scotland is one of the wildest parts of the British Isles | 0:00:03 | 0:00:07 | |
and world famous for its spectacular scenery. | 0:00:07 | 0:00:11 | |
This wilderness lies on the fringes of some beautiful historic cities | 0:00:16 | 0:00:21 | |
which can make for a wonderful wildlife surprise. | 0:00:21 | 0:00:25 | |
Large wild mammals | 0:00:31 | 0:00:34 | |
are turning up in a city centre. | 0:00:34 | 0:00:37 | |
Roe deer. | 0:00:49 | 0:00:51 | |
Perhaps the last creatures you'd expect to see in town. | 0:00:53 | 0:00:57 | |
So why are they here | 0:01:01 | 0:01:03 | |
and how do they survive? | 0:01:03 | 0:01:06 | |
This is the story of a young couple who set up home in a cemetery. | 0:01:21 | 0:01:26 | |
What makes them so special | 0:01:30 | 0:01:33 | |
is that they're much more than passing visitors. | 0:01:33 | 0:01:37 | |
In fact, they may have lived here all their lives. | 0:01:41 | 0:01:45 | |
It looks idyllic, | 0:01:55 | 0:01:58 | |
but in such an urban setting | 0:01:58 | 0:02:01 | |
can there be a happy ending for this wildlife fairy tale? | 0:02:01 | 0:02:05 | |
It can't have been the bright lights that brought roe deer into town. | 0:02:15 | 0:02:19 | |
Why would they choose to live surrounded by traffic, not trees? | 0:02:21 | 0:02:25 | |
Well, perhaps the big attraction is simply that there are no other deer. | 0:02:34 | 0:02:39 | |
Over the past few years, | 0:02:43 | 0:02:45 | |
the roe deer population has exploded in the countryside. | 0:02:45 | 0:02:49 | |
More woods and copses have been planted | 0:02:49 | 0:02:52 | |
and the deer are more protected too. | 0:02:52 | 0:02:55 | |
As numbers rise, though, there's a problem. | 0:02:55 | 0:02:59 | |
Roe deer are territorial. | 0:03:00 | 0:03:03 | |
They need their own kingdom. | 0:03:03 | 0:03:05 | |
As things get crowded, | 0:03:05 | 0:03:07 | |
new generations have to go further afield to find a home. | 0:03:07 | 0:03:12 | |
But surely city life is a step too far? | 0:03:14 | 0:03:18 | |
Some wild animals have settled permanently in our towns. | 0:03:20 | 0:03:24 | |
Bouncy grey squirrels boldly go wherever they can find a tree. | 0:03:27 | 0:03:32 | |
And magpies always have a beady eye on their next move. | 0:03:38 | 0:03:43 | |
This one's busy burying peanuts for a rainy day. | 0:03:45 | 0:03:49 | |
But they all need to stay alert. | 0:04:15 | 0:04:17 | |
Danger lurks in the city too. | 0:04:17 | 0:04:19 | |
Foxes may be the enemy, | 0:04:39 | 0:04:42 | |
but they've got one thing in common with squirrels and magpies | 0:04:42 | 0:04:46 | |
that helps them cope with urban life. | 0:04:46 | 0:04:49 | |
They have the cheek and curiosity | 0:04:49 | 0:04:52 | |
to take advantage of whatever comes their way. | 0:04:52 | 0:04:56 | |
But has this shy, gentle creature | 0:04:57 | 0:05:00 | |
got what it takes? | 0:05:00 | 0:05:03 | |
Roe deer turn out to have some rather special qualities | 0:05:04 | 0:05:08 | |
that set them apart from other deer. | 0:05:08 | 0:05:11 | |
For a start, they live alone or sometimes in a pair. | 0:05:11 | 0:05:14 | |
And rather than relying on grass, they eat a wide variety of food. | 0:05:16 | 0:05:21 | |
They're vegetarian connoisseurs | 0:05:23 | 0:05:26 | |
who prefer to pick juicy shoots from different plants and shrubs, | 0:05:26 | 0:05:30 | |
which makes them more adaptable. | 0:05:30 | 0:05:33 | |
So roe deer turn out to be better suited to life in the city | 0:05:37 | 0:05:41 | |
than you might expect. | 0:05:41 | 0:05:44 | |
In fact, all they need to make themselves at home is good food, | 0:05:45 | 0:05:50 | |
some shelter and a bit of peace and quiet. | 0:05:50 | 0:05:54 | |
Thanks to the Victorians' veneration of their dead, | 0:05:57 | 0:06:00 | |
all kinds of wild creatures find a green oasis | 0:06:00 | 0:06:04 | |
in the centre of this city. | 0:06:04 | 0:06:06 | |
Wilderness is on the doorstep of most Scottish cities. | 0:06:41 | 0:06:45 | |
They have lots of parks and small green spaces too, | 0:06:49 | 0:06:53 | |
all of which makes it easier for wildlife to move in. | 0:06:53 | 0:06:58 | |
So is this city-dwelling pair unique or could they start a trend? | 0:07:01 | 0:07:06 | |
Locals believe they're twins, | 0:07:06 | 0:07:09 | |
a brother and sister born here in the cemetery. | 0:07:09 | 0:07:12 | |
That would make these two very special. | 0:07:17 | 0:07:21 | |
Not only have they survived, | 0:07:21 | 0:07:23 | |
but they could be the second generation of deer to live here - | 0:07:23 | 0:07:27 | |
true urbanites. | 0:07:27 | 0:07:30 | |
So could these two eventually find mates of their own | 0:07:32 | 0:07:36 | |
and even successfully breed? | 0:07:36 | 0:07:39 | |
Their parents first showed up soon after the millennium, | 0:07:39 | 0:07:43 | |
but they've since disappeared. | 0:07:43 | 0:07:46 | |
After all, city life has many risks. | 0:07:46 | 0:07:49 | |
But the fact their family has survived | 0:07:56 | 0:07:59 | |
holds hope for the future. | 0:07:59 | 0:08:02 | |
This pair are living proof | 0:08:04 | 0:08:06 | |
that some deer can adapt to city life. | 0:08:06 | 0:08:10 | |
The best thing we can do to help | 0:08:10 | 0:08:13 | |
is just leave them alone. | 0:08:13 | 0:08:15 | |
Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd | 0:08:32 | 0:08:35 | |
E-mail us at: [email protected] | 0:08:35 | 0:08:39 |