Also, up close, the antlers of males are quite dangerous, and our boat driver warned us about the injuries people in the past have sustained from getting too close. I had never seen wild deer up close, and I could tell they were equally nervous and curious about us humans. Lastly, one thing that I underestimated was the sensation of feeling so isolated while navigating the quiet island with only the ocean and distant islands surrounding us. This experience is one that I will not forget easily.
Formosan Sika Deer is a native species of Taiwan and lives in many places across the country. Deer meat was originally used to feed soldiers, but the soldiers did not like the taste of the meat. So the government sent the remaining 13 deer to Daqiu Island in 1981, where they were left to become wild. Currently, an estimated 200 deer are living on the island.
To explain a bit more about the Matsu Islands and Daqiu Island specifically, the Matsu Islands were said to have once been inhabited by stone people thousands of years ago. During the Song Dynasty of the Chinese empire during 990-1200 AD, Chinese fishermen rediscovered the island and reinhabited it. Daqiu Island is translated as “Big Hill” in Chinese and stems from the island being one big hill. Daqiu Island first grew in prominence and popularity during the 20th century as a military outpost and small village. In 1970, there was a recorded number of around 280 people living on the island from 45 families. However, in 1990, the last civilian resident and his family left to live on one of the main islands, Beigan or Nangan, leaving only military personnel on the island. By 1998, all military members left the island, leaving it with only one resident.
