The red deer (Cervus elaphus) is one of the biggest deer species. It is found in central Asia and in some parts of western Asia. Red deer are the close relatives of wapiti and American elk. It is also called western European red deer.
Red Deer Facts
Red deer live in Europe, North Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, and Argentina. They are also found in Iran, Uruguay, and northwestern Africa.
Adult deer measures 4 feet at the shoulder height. They have reddish brown coat.
There are 10 members in the red deer species group.
Adult males produce a roaring sound during the breeding (rut) period. The loud sounds attract females. The louder is the sound the greater is the number of females attracts to a male.
Male deer do n
ot seem to join groups when they have antlers but when they shed their antlers they do prefer to live in herds. Females live in large herds of up to 50 individuals in each group.
They are migratory species in that they move to higher habitats in summer where the food is abundant. However in winter red deer prefer to live in lower wooded terrains.
After attaining maturity at 2 years age the female gives birth to twins. The newborn fawns weigh up to 33 pounds at birth.
Red deer can live 10 – 13 years in the wild but in captivity their lifespan is about 20 years.
Predators of red deer are leopards, Eurasian lynx, brown bear, Barbary leopard, gray wolf, and wild boars.
