Persian Fallow Deer

Facts

IUCN ENDANGERED (EN)

Facts about this animal

The Persian fallow deer is somewhat larger than the European fallow deer. The short smooth coat is overall a reddish-brown to ochre colour, with numerous prominent white spots spread randomly about the body. A band of white spots along the lower part of the body demarcates the range of the spots, while two rows of spots, or some cases a solid white line, run alongside the darker dorsal line. The undersides, including the neck, chin and jowls are white, as is the muzzle.

The antlers of the Mesopotamian fallow deer, carried only by the males, have thick beams with many tines. Unlike the European fallow deer, they do not have a large, flat "palm" on the upper part of their antlers.

The Persian fallow deer previously occurred in North Africa from the Tunisian border to the Red Sea and in Asia from Syria and Jordan ro Iraq and western Iran, but was hunted to extinction over most of its range, with the advent of modern firearms having accelerating this process. By 1951 it was thought to have become extinct, but in 1955 a limited number were found in a dense forested region in Iran, near the border with Iraq, from where Georg von Opel, the founder of Opel Zoo, and later the Nature Conservatio Authorties of Israel were able to obtain a few specimens, which formed the nucleus of today’s zoo population.

Did you know?
that the Persian fallow deer is listed in the Book of Deuteronomy (14:5) among the seven species of non domesticated ungulates that the Children of Israel were permitted to eat?

Factsheet
Class	MAMMALIA
Order	ARTIODACTYLA
Suborder	RUMINANTIA
Family	CERVIDAE
Name (Scientific)	Dama mesopotamica
Name (English)	Persian Fallow Deer
Name (French)	Daim de Mésopotamie
Name (German)	Mesopotamischer Damhirsch
Name (Spanish)	Dama pérsico
CITES Status	Appendix I
CMS Status	Not listed

Photo Copyright by
Eyal Bartov

Distribution

Distribution
Range	Iran, Irak, Israel
Habitat	Deciduous woodland with open patches
Wild population	Approx. < 100 (1998)
Zoo population	149 reported to ISIS (2005)

In the Zoo

How this animal should be transported

Hard antlers should be removed before transport under proper restraint and, where required, sedation. No deer with antlers in velvet at a stage of growth which could be damaged easily should be transported where there is a risk of injury.

For air transport, Container Note 73 of the IATA Live Animals Regulations, should be followed.

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Photo Copyright by
Eyal Bartov

Why do zoos keep this animal

Persian fallow deer are highly endangered, therefore zoos keep them for the purposes of conservation breeding programmes. A reintroduction programme is being undertaken in Israel by Jerusalem Zoo.

How this animal should be kept

Persian fallow deer should be kept in social groups of one adult male and several females with their offspring. In larger enclosures mixed herds of several males and females may be kept. Temporary separation of sexes and keeping in bachelor groups is also possible.

For up to five adult animals an outdoor enclosure of at least 500 m² is required, which should be enlarged by 50 m² for each additional adult. The enclosure should be well structured by logs, heaps of branches, rocks, bushes, or trees, allowing the deer to withdraw and hide from each other. Persian fallow deer do not need a mud bath. Branches should be made available for antler rubbing (removal of velvet). Frequently used areas, e.g. at the entrance to the stables, should be paved. The soil should be well drained.

Enclosures with non-drained soil and grass cover offer at least 1000 m² per adult animal. A simple shelter of suitable size to accommodate all animals should be available as a protection from inclement weather or for providing shadow.

Persian fallow deer do graze and browse, feeding on grass, leaves, shoots, flowers, twigs etc. The diet should therefore consist of good quality hay ad lib., fresh browse (winter: leafless; summer: with leaves), dried browse (in winter, e.g.chestnut leaves), fresh lucerne/grass mixture (only summer), pellets especially for browsers, crushed oats, bran, fruit, and vegetables.