Persian Fallow Deer

The Persian fallow deer is the largest of the fallow deer, weighing 40 - 100 kg. It occupies woodland habitat. The diet of fallow deer varies by season and includes grass, nuts and leaves. Fallow deer live in herds, with males establishing territories duringthe breeding season. The Persian fallow deer previously occurred in North Africafrom the Tunisian border to the Red Sea and in Asia from Syria and Jordan to Iraq and western Iran. It 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 becomeextinct, but in 1955 limited number were found in a dense forested region in Iran, near the border with Iraq. This population persisted despite continued hunting and habitat destruction at least until the 1980's. Recently, conflict between Iran and Iraq has made itdifficult to determine the deer's status.