… and finally

We received a press release from the National Trust for Scotland early last month, which we reproduce here verbatim. Whilst it is sad to lose a favourite animal, it does seem strange that it took the staff at Culzean two years to notice!

Culzean’s most pictured deer dies at 21

One of the most popular (and pictured) deer at the National Trust for Scotland’s Culzean Castle and Country Park has died at the ripe old age of 21.

Suzie was born into the herd at the Ayrshire estate in June 1991 and had to be hand reared after being rejected by her mother. Head Forrester Ian Cornelius took on the onerous task, beginning a friendship that would last decades.

Ian remembers the early days well. He said:

“Suzie particularly enjoyed going out walks with the dogs and followed along faithfully building her muscles up and romping around in the garden. We took to walking dogs, cats (they came of their own volition) and deer in the woods and we made a strange sight indeed.” At six months old, Suzie was introduced into the twenty-five strong herd of red deer which have been kept at Culzean for decades.

She quickly became a firm favourite with visitors, allowing people to pet her and feed her favourite treats of apples and pears. She happily posed with visitors and was much photographed – there are pictures of her all over the world.

Suzie died peacefully earlier this month at the astonishing age of 21. She has been buried on the estate where she spent her entire life. Her two offspring Sandie and Suki are still part of the herd at Culzean.