Leuven (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – A large fallow deer roaming near Leuven and Herent was captured Friday night, Oct 31, 2025, by the Animal Rescue Service with police. A veterinarian sedated it, and it was later safely relocated.
As VRT News reported, a large fallow deer was captured late Friday night, Oct 31, 2025, between Leuven and Herent by the Animal Rescue Service. The animal had been roaming the area for several days and was seen near busy roads.
“The deer had been causing problems for several days,”
an ARS spokesperson said.
“When it came close to three major intersections, the risk of an accident became too great, so the police asked for our help.”
ARS workers and local police quickly secured the area to stop the animal from running onto the road.
What happened during the rescue of the large fallow deer near Leuven?
A veterinarian was called to the scene to sedate the deer safely. After the tranquilliser took effect, the animal was restrained without harm and given a brief medical check. The fallow deer was then transported to a secure location for observation. It will later be released into a suitable natural environment once it has recovered.
“He was quickly tranquillized, and luckily, he wasn’t too upset by the dart. He stayed close by, so we could easily take him away,”
an ARS spokesperson said.
The rescue did not finish smoothly, as there was no immediate place for the large fallow deer.
“No one had a place for this beautiful buck. After an hour of calling shelters and acquaintances, we still hadn’t found anything. That left only two options: euthanise him or relocate him and release him.”
The police and the Animal Welfare Department later managed to find a new home for the deer. “Fortunately, we were able to release the animal in a safer location than Leuven city centre,” the Animal Rescue Service said. The group is now asking people who own fallow deer and are willing to take in another to contact them.
A similar incident occurred in Leuven on May 26, 2022. A buck was caught inside a walled garden in the city. Residents noticed the animal and contacted the Animal Rescue Service for assistance. Rescue teams responded and safely released the deer. The deer was examined for injuries and subsequently released into the woods nearby.
