Red deer

Cervus elaphus

Red deer stag walking to the left. IMAGE: Amy Middleton 2023

Status

NE DD LC NT VU EN CR EW EX

For more info on classifications visit www.iucnredlist.org

We have a large herd of red deer here at the park that can be spotted in our drive-through reserve.

Population

increasing_population_icon

Increasing

Diet

herbivore_diet_icon

Herbivore

Habitat

grasslands_habitat_icon

Grasslands

Fact file

  • Red deer are the UK's largest species of deer - and the largest land mammal in Britain

  • Males have large, branching antlers, increasing in size as they get older. Their antlers can measure up to one metre in breadth and weigh as much as 15kg!

  • In the Scottish Highlands, stags chew on the old antlers when they fall off. These bony antlers are rich in calcium, which is deficient in many soils of the Highlands

Herd of red deer gathered on a hill side in the drive through reserve. IMAGE: Laura Moore 2020

How we're helping

Like all the animals in our care, our deer are amazing ambassadors for their relatives in the wild and help hundreds of thousands of people connect with nature every year. They encourage visitors to learn about the threats facing wildlife and the action they can take to help create a world where nature is protected, valued, and loved.

As a wildlife conservation charity, we care for the animals here at the park and work to protect species at risk around the world. From providing expertise in genetics and veterinary health to protecting wild places with local conservation partners, and even restoring threatened species to the wild, we are active where we are needed most.

Find out more about RZSS conservation