Between spots and antlers: we give you the Portuguese fallow deer

With its mottled coat and elegant pose, the fallow deer (Dama Dama) is a ruminant mammal similar to the deer. It is highly adaptable and can survive in a wide range of habitats and is seldom found in the wild. Learn more about this mammal and its role in the Portuguese biodiversity.

The fallow deer (Dama Dama) is a widely known and appreciated deer species in Portugal. This animal from the Mediterranean region (Turkey), stands out for its beauty and presence in Portuguese landscapes and can be found often in natural parks and game reserves.

This species stands out for its unique coat and antlers. The coat changes colour according to the season, displaying a reddish-brown colour with white spots on the back and flanks during the summer, becoming darker, uniform and grey in winter. This seasonal change of looks allows the fallow deer to better adapt to the environment providing it camouflage against predators.

The fallow deer is a medium-sized animal, 85 and 110 cm tall and weighing 40 to 100 kg. Sexual dimorphism is evident in this species and females are generally smaller and males with more robust and ornate features. Males are easily identifiable by their impressive flat antlers, which renew annually in the Spring and reach their growth peak in the summer. In adult males, antlers can reach 70 centimetres in height and 20 centimetres in width.

As regards its habitat, the fallow deer is quite adaptable. It inhabits forests, shrublands and open areas, preferring areas with plenty of grazing and water. In Portugal, it is fairly common in regions such as the Gaia Biological Park, Tapada Nacional de Mafra (Lisbon region), Herdade do Vale Feitoso (Beira Interior) and in some estates in the Alentejo and Ribatejo, offering the right environment for its conservation and observation.

They are not territorial animals and their areas of activity overlap. When undisturbed and with an abundance of food their daily commutes are typically short.  The fallow deer diet is herbivorous, feeding on assorted vegetation, including leaves, herbs, fruits, and tree bark.

It is also worth mentioning the social behaviour of deer. For much of the year, males and females live in separate groups, getting together only during the mating season, which occurs in the fall. Males then compete through fights and displays of strength to win over females. Gestation lasts about eight months, culminating in the birth of one, exceptionally two, offspring in spring (late May).

The newborn calf remains hidden for the first few days and the mother is no more than fifteen meters away, returning when necessary to breastfeed. About 15 days after birth the mother and child rejoin the group. Weaning occurs at about 12 weeks, but most females breastfeed until the end of November. In this species, parental care is performed exclusively by the female.

More than a hunting trophy

Although it is not a native species of the Iberian Peninsula and there are many records of other species of the same genus already extinct throughout Europe, the fallow deer was introduced due to its much-appreciated meat and the ornamental value of its antlers. At the beginning of the twentieth century, this species was almost extinct in Portugal. Currently, it is well established in several Portuguese regions, but almost exclusively in a fenced-in regime.

The fallow deer has been introduced in Portugal and Spain for centuries to reinforce hunting activity. Most populations are bred to (re)populate hunting grounds in private and fenced properties. The only small population nuclei in a wild state can be found in the Guadiana Valley, Alcácer do Sal and Coruche, composed of fallow deer that escaped the estates.

But is the fallow deer just a prized hunting trophy? The fallow deer plays an important role in the ecosystems where it has established a presence, contributing to the biodiversity and dynamism of natural habitats.

It can assist the maintenance or renovation of natural processes that may be weakened or absent in certain forest areas, performing the functions of a gardener, by grazing in groups and cleaning excess biomass, dispersing seeds, transporting nutrients (through excrement) or simply being another important prey for carnivores such as the wolf and the Iberian lynx.

Its presence is also an ecotourism attraction offering visitors the opportunity to watch this majestic cervid up close in its natural habitat.

The fallow deer (Dama Dama) is a fascinating element of the Portuguese fauna, and its observation and conservation are of the utmost importance. With proper care and management, this species is expected to thrive in the Portuguese landscapes, improving biodiversity and providing a natural show to those who have the privilege of seeing it.

Did you know that…

• The fallow deer has one of the most elaborate anal shields of all deer. It has a characteristic design that resembles an inverted anchor. It’s white, bordered by two white lines and crossed by its long tail – black in the centre and white at the edges. Colour contrast is very relevant for communication between the elements of the group.

• Only males have antlers that, like other deer, fall in March/April, and new ones begin to grow. Their age can thus be ascertained by the size of their armour.
• All elements of the body structure of the fallow deer serve as a means of communication. The characteristic anal shield can transmit several messages; there are different types of vocalisations for different messages; the sense of smell also captures messages – due to its special sensitivity in the perception of odours; and the antlers – which state the hierarchical and reproductive level of the male to opponents.
• In addition to the most common wild colour, there are three more types of coat: black; white; and “menil”, a paler version of the wild type with more pronounced white spots and almost all white head, neck and legs.