About
Red deer (Cervus elaphus). A large deer widely distributed across Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa, preferring patches of grassland within deciduous broadleaf forests, coniferous forests, and mixed woodlands. Body length is about 1.7–2.1 m and shoulder height 1.1–1.4 m; males are larger than females and bear complex branched antlers. A ruminant that feeds on grasses, shoots, bark, and fruits, it is most active at dawn and dusk. Breeding occurs in autumn, with a gestation of about 240 days resulting typically in a single fawn. Populations are increasing in many regions and it is assessed as Least Concern.
