A NEWBORN red deer calf which was found abandoned by the side of the road is set to make a full recovery later this year thanks to Secret World Wildlife Rescue.

The deer was found collapsed at the side of a road between Badgers Holt and Wheddon Cross and was crying for its mother by a member of the public.

After initially leaving the calf alone in the hope its mother would return, the passer-by called Secret World for help.

Marie Denston, animal carer at Secret World, was the first carer to assess the calf when it arrived at the centre and said the deer is recovering well.

“The baby animal was unable to walk and still had its umbilical cord attached when it was found," Marie said.

“Sweet Pea, as she’s been named, is now feeding well and being cared for by two animal carers day and night.

"She has been moved to the fawn unit where she is in the company of a young fallow and a juvenile roe deer.

“Fawn is usually the term we use for baby deer but in fact the only one that is truly a fawn is the fallow deer. The red is called a calf and a roe is called a kid.”

The young deer will remain at Secret World until the autumn when it will be taken to a safe site to be released and monitored by the land owner.

Secret World Wildlife Rescue relies on access to multiple sites for successful releases such as this one.

If you can offer release sites for a variety of species of animals, please call Jamie Kingscott, Wildlife Release Manager on 01278 783250 or email Jamie.Kingscott@secretworld.org