Current distribution of the Reeves’ muntjac Muntiacus reevesi (Ogilby, 1839) in France

Abstract

The Reeves’ muntjac Muntiacus reevesi is an ungulate native to China and Taiwan that has been released into the wild in several continental European countries and the United Kingdom. We present recent records of the species in mainland France. We also investigated the dispersal rate and density of the established population in the Centre-Val de Loire region. The number of observations of M. reevesi was low in the period 2008–2016, increased sharply until 2019 and then decreased until 2023. From a comparison between the distribution in 2008–2012 and 2013–2017, the dispersal rate was estimated at an average of 3.2 km/year, and 7.6 km/year between 2013–2017 and 2018–2023. Based on a camera trap protocol, the population density was assumed to be very low in forested areas but estimated with a lack of robustness due to a single observation. Further efforts must be made to better assess the risk of an increase in the wild population of Reeves’ muntjac in the Centre-Val de Loire region. To prevent potential impacts, rapid control measures can be put in place in the large area (10,800 km2) where muntjacs are now rapidly spreading.