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Fallow Deer (D. dama) once occurred along the Mediterranean coast of
Africa, but it is now extinct. A breeding and reintroduction programme
was started in 1966 for this species at Antalya in south-west Turkey.
The Persian Fallow Deer is sometimes considered a subspecies of the
Fallow Deer.
Conservation Areas Dasht-e Naz WR, Karkheh WR, Dez WR, Lake
Urumiyeh (Ashk Is.) (Iran); Hai Bar NR (Israel).
ROE DEER Capreolus capreolus
Identification The smallest of the three deer species in the region,
the Roe Deer has a largely uniform red-brown to yellow-brown coat,
white rump patch and very short tail (2–3 cm). The winter coat usually
has a greyish tinge. Fawns have heavily white-spotted coats. Only the
rams carry the short (20–30 cm) antlers, with usually 3–6 points. The
antlers are shed in mid-autumn and regrowth is complete by spring.
Size Shoulder height 70 cm.
Weight 15 –30 kg.
Habitat and Behaviour Roe Deer frequent woodland with under-
growth, and heath land. They are mixed feeders that graze and
browse, and eat fallen fruits, fungi, lichen and moss. They are usually
solitary except when the ewe is accompanied by a fawn, but a ram