Black Fallow Deer

T

he Black Fallow Deer is a ruminant mammal with characteristics identical to the deer although smaller, with a longer tail and flattened webbed antlers. This species is native to Turkey, Iran and southern Europe. They can live up to 20 years.

Anatomy: Long, thin neck, long snout, large ears and variable fur throughout the year. The fur and dorsal spots are darker in the winter and the ventral region is white. During summer, the fur acquires a reddish brown color with well-defined white dorsal spots. The black fallow deer is a species with evident sexual dimorphism: males have antlers which increase in complexity and size during growth, and females do not. After the annual fall of the antlers, which occurs in the spring, they start growing again, peaking in early summer.

In addition to the most common wild color of the coat, there are three other types: black; white and “menil”. The black color, the rarest of them all, is the one that exists at QSF.

Reproduction: Polygamous animals. The breeding season occurs in autumn. During this season the males are more territorial, competing with other males and emitting vocalizations. Gestation lasts about eight months and culminates, in general, with the birth of one fawn. Weaning occurs around the age of three months.