A KEEPER from Knowsley Safari Park has welcomed a “deer” friend into her Radcliffe home as a lodger.

Emma Gatcliffe has “let” her spare bedroom to Sultana, a baby Sitatunga antelope she is hand rearing after the fawn was abandoned by her mother.

Because Sultana needs bottle feeding every four hours, Emma brings her home from the park each evening in a dog carrier in her car.

After a few hours playing with Emma’s pet poodle Macy, or lying in front of the TV, Sultana settles down for the night in a specially created pen in the bedroom. Emma, a section head, said: “This arrangement has been working very well for the last few weeks, although it hasn’t done wonders for my bedroom carpet.

“Sultana is very affectionate and has quickly got used to our routine — she’s waiting by my car ready to come home every evening.”

Knowsley keepers stepped in to save Sultana after a group of wildebeest acted aggressively towards her after she had wandered over to their group, presumably looking for food after her mother lost interest in her.

Safari Park general manager, David Ross, explained: “Our policy is usually to let nature take its course and we regard hand rearing as very much a last resort.

“However, on this occasion, the baby antelope was obviously not going to make it without our help so we had no choice but to give her a second chance.”

In the meantime, Sultana has become something of a minor celebrity in recent weeks.

Emma added: “All our friends and neighbours are fascinated by her. We’ve never had so many visitors!”