Elk Sighting Sparks Fears Over Deer Farm Escapes Undermining Eradication Efforts in South Australia

A South Australian landholder's surprise sighting of elk on her property has sparked fresh concerns that escapes from deer farms are undermining South Australia's multi-million-dollar effort to eradicate feral deer.

The Feral Deer in South Australia report, released last month by the South Australian government, has confirmed a sighting of elk or elk-deer hybrids outside containment lines.

The species is not known to have established breeding populations in the state.

According to the report, there are no large populations of feral elk deer (wapiti) in Australia and that most of the information about the species' breeding comes from captive animals.

South East landholder Anne Daw said she saw elk on her property on the Limestone Coast in 2024.

"We noticed that their bodies were much higher above the yakka bushes and the native vegetation in comparison to the red deer … we were also concerned about aggression."

Environmental damage fears

While Ms Daw has not seen any elk near her property since, she remained concerned about the damage they could cause to the environment and farm fencing.

Primary Industries Minister Clare Scriven said there was no evidence elk or elk-hybrids had established large breeding populations in South Australia.

"It [the report] would suggest that they were either released intentionally, which would be very, very unfortunate, or perhaps more likely they escaped from a deer farm," Ms Scriven said.

The government is still encouraging landholders to keep an eye out due to the risks they pose.

Invasive Species Council chief executive Jack Gough said he was not yet concerned elk would become a widespread problem in Australia.

"I'm confident the authorities with the eradication work that's going on for deer generally in South Australia will get on top of this, but it does highlight just how significant the risk is," he said.

Farm leakage concern

But Mr Gough said the sighting highlighted the problem of leakage from deer farm operations.

"There's no need for it. There's not really a particular market for it."

Department of Primary Industries and Regions principal biosecurity officer for pest animals Brad Page said earlier changes to tagging and fencing requirements should be enough to prevent significant escapes from deer farms.

"What has happened in 2019 is the regulations around farming were tightened up significantly," he said.

"What we're looking at here is the result of historic farms that allowed deer to escape or accidentally allowed deer to escape or there might have been intentional illegal releases of deer."

Any farmed deer found outside containment can be traced through the updated tagging system.

"That instantly triggers an inspection, a very close inspection of the farm from where it came," Mr Page said.

Industry says escapes are limited

Deer Industry Association of Australia vice-president Milton Stevens, who operates a deer farm on South Australia's Eyre Peninsula, said escapes from deer farms would be minimal.

"They're a herd animal; where there are other deer they'll congregate, which would tend to point the finger at the farm for leakage, but the feral herds that were already established in the state have been drawn to those deer farms," Mr Stevens said.

"They're a valuable asset … we're not going to let them go willingly."

There are 48 deer farms across South Australia, and the report suggests most leakage is linked to 13 specific deer farms.

Mr Stevens said he would not want to see any of them pushed out of business by the report.

He said velvet, which covers deer antlers and is harvested and processed into powders, sprays, or extracts, had been a very handy adjunct to our farming.

The report into feral deer in South Australia found their presence could be predicted largely by rainfall or proximity to deer farms.

Ms Scriven said the government was not considering any changes to deer farming regulation.