Are there any wild deer herds on the Hawaiian Islands, and if so, how did they get there?

Best answer will be awarded by asker. This question does have an absolute answer.Are there any wild deer herds on the Hawaiian Islands, and if so, how did they get there?
Axis deer from India were introduced to Maui (and eventually Lanai, Oahu and Molokai) in 1959 as a game species with relatively low reproductive potential. This was a wrong presumption. The original number of 9 has multiplied to at least 4,000, threatening farms and forestry. They are difficult to fence out.


Black-tail deer were brought to Kauai in 1961 from Oregon and they have caused problems since that time as well, eating many native plants and fruits.Are there any wild deer herds on the Hawaiian Islands, and if so, how did they get there?
There are no wild deer in Hawaii but there are FERAL axis deer populations.





Two stories exist for Axis being introduced to Hawaii. According to Graf (1950), the first Axis Deer were imported in 1868 to Moloka'i from India, a gift to King Kamehameha from the government of Hong Kong. According to Ables (1974) the Axis was first introduced to Maui in 1889. Populations have multiplied and spread and, today, there is the general feeling in Hawaii that the Axis is a pest and should be eradicated.
They must've been taken there by coloners! It's not like they'd actually swim!