Estonian fauna – red deer

The stamp of the Estonian fauna stamp series depicts the red deer – Cervus elaphus. Originally native to Central Europe, this beautiful game animal was introduced to many parts of the world by humans. It was also introduced to Estonia partly as a result of human activities. The deer were brought from several places in the 1970s (Voronezh, Latvia, Lithuania) and released in Hiiumaa and Saaremaa. Some time later, they arrived in southern Estonia from Latvia on their own initiative. Today, the deer population has grown to more than 10,000 specimens. Most of them live on Hiiumaa and Saaremaa, but their numbers are also increasing in mainland Estonia. Deer are sexually dimorphic, meaning that males (stags) are almost twice the size of hinds, weighing 200–300 kg. Stags are very vocal during the mating season, i.e. in September, and their roars are probably the most powerful calls you can hear in our forests. The offspring, usually a single fawn per pregnancy, rarely more, are born in May. The red deer is a prized game animal because of its magnificent antlers. At the same time, as a voracious herbivore and dendrophage, red deer are a concern for farmers and forest owners. But what can you do? Such is life.