Reportedly studied cherished animal in forest (3,4)
I believe the answer is:
red deer
'animal in forest' is the definition.
'red deer' can be an answer for 'animal' (type of animal). I'm not certain of the 'in forest' bit.
'reportedly studied cherished' is the wordplay.
'reportedly' indicates a 'sounds like' (homophone) clue.
'studied' becomes 'read' (to read a subject is to study it at university).
'cherished' becomes 'deer' (I've seen this in another clue).
'read' is a homophone of 'red'.
'red'+'deer'='RED DEER'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for red deer that I've seen before include "source of venison" , "Antlered animal" , "Large grazing animal of temperate Europe and Asia" , "Does perhaps" , "Exmoor fauna, say" .)