Three rare deer released into a forest in Songjiang District have been found dead over the weekend, two with their throats bitten.

Researchers who found the Chinese water deer, among 10 freed into a conservation area near Xinbang Town, say they died of fright or their wounds.

The probable culprits are dogs, they said.

They were released into the 180 mu (12 hectare) area in a project to reintroduce the species in Shanghai.

One buck was discovered dead in water while two other male deer were recovered in bushes, reported xinmin.cn.

Two had bites to their necks and bodies while the third had no injuries, said researchers.

Wounds suggested two were attacked by animals such as dogs rather than other deer, under a week ago, they said.

Those animals and the third unmarked water deer may also have died of fright after being chased, they added.

Researchers did not say whether feral or domestic dogs were suspected of attacking the deer, a class II protected species in China.

While it was to be expected that the deer would encounter natural enemies, this was a blow to the program, said project director Chen Min.

The project, launched in 2006 by local agricultural authorities and the School of Life Sciences of East China Normal University, has created six habitats for the deer in Shanghai.

Near Punan Town in Songjiang, where 17 were released eight years ago, their numbers now stand at more than 150.

Indigenous to the lower Yangtze River, the Chinese water deer is a strong swimmer. It stands 50 centimeters at the shoulder and has distinctive downward-pointing tusks.

Habitat loss and hunting saw it disappear in Shanghai early in the 20th century.

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