Fallow Deer Natural History
Size
Males measure up to 94 cm to the shoulder while females a slightly shorter, measuring between 73- 91 cm to the shoulder. Males can weigh 94 kg and females weigh up to 56 kg.
Habitat and Distribution
Deer parks started to decline during the 15th century and as parks fell into disrepair, deer would escape creating the wild population which is so widespread throughout England and Wales today. Additionally, there is a small population in Scotland as well as healthy populations throughout much of Europe. They also have populations in the USA, Canada, New Zealand, Peru, Uruguay, Chile, Russian Federation and Fiji.
Age
Fallow Deer can have a lifespan of up to 16 years.
Diet
These deer graze mostly on grasses but will also eat shrub and tree shoots.
Groups and Breeding
Herds consist of adult males and females and young. After mating females will give birth to a single young after a gestation period of 229 days.
Threats
These animals are classified as least concern by the IUCN. However, populations in some countries, such as Turkey, have seen a dramatic decline. Conflict with farmers due to agricultural damage caused by browsing is fairly common.
Interesting Facts
-They were first introduced to Britain from the western Mediterranean during the Roman occupation. They went extinct here after the Roman Empire collapsed and were reintroduced again from the eastern Mediterranean in the 11th century.
-A male is called a buck, a female is called a doe and young are fawns.
The Fallow Deer During Your Day Out in Kent
We are home to a single male Fallow Deer named Reggie. He came to the park in September 2018 at the age of three months due to being orphaned. Reggie lives with our Parma Wallabies next to the goats and having been hand reared is fond of human attention.
The more you know…
Want to know more about this animal? Check out our keeper blogs about them here.