A message that you hope is not true, but it is: the deer park in the Rokkeveen district must disappear.
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Minister Adema of Agriculture has decided that from 2024 deer may no longer be kept at children’s farms, camps and gardens. That means the end for the small deer park on the Lakpad.
House and hobby animal list
The ministry has released a list of ‘animal welfare for domestic and hobby animals’ which states which animals may still be kept from 2024. fallow and red deer are not on this list. This means that these animals may no longer be kept from next year.
According to the minister, not all animals are suitable as pets and it is irresponsible to keep deer on small pieces of land, protected by fences. Deer need room to run when they sense danger.
Deer camps are banned
The small-scale neighborhood deer camp in the Kleurbuurt is no exception to the new rule. The deer that live there may stay until they die, but no further breeding is allowed with the animals. Volunteer Lester van Eijken does not understand the decision at all. “This deer park is a meeting place for the neighbourhood. Local residents, children, office workers and others walk their daily rounds here. I don’t understand that the deer have to disappear here. Last year we added a brand new storage room.”
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Alpacas are allowed
It is not yet known whether the space where the deer still frolic freely will soon be used for another purpose. It is known, for example, that camels and alpacas are not on the Ministry’s list, so there is a chance that these animals will soon become the new residents in the deer parks.
We asked the municipality of Zoetermeer for a response: It is still unclear exactly what the minister’s decision will mean for the Hertenkamp in Rokkeveen. We understand that the deer that are already present can stay in the camp and that no new deer can be added.” We keep an eye on the news!