Red Deer

Class: Mammals

Order: Artiodactyla

Family: Cervidae

Weight: 180-234 kg

Height: 124-149 cm

Body length: 173-208 cm

Coloration: Varies from dark brown in winter to light brown in summer, with a characteristic reddish-brown rump.

Age of sexual maturity: 16 months

Gestation period: 240-262 days

Lifespan: 20-30 years

Habitat: The red deer inhabits most of Europe, the Caucasus Mountains region, Anatolia, Iran, and parts of Western Asia. It is also found in the Atlas Mountains in Morocco and Tunisia, being the only deer species native to Africa.

Diet: Red deer feed on grasses, fallen acorns, nuts and fruits, leaves from trees and shrubs, mushrooms, and berries. In winter, they also consume bark, buds, and shoots, and occasionally needles.

Did you know?

• A red deer can leap distances of 5-6 meters.
• They are more active during severe cold than in milder weather.
• Red deer shed their antlers and grow new ones each year. While their antlers are growing, they are covered in a protective skin called “velvet.”
• Some exceptionally large stags have antlers that weigh up to 11 kg or even more.