Among the prettiest of deer are fallow deer (Dama dama), a widespread species found throughout Europe, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Uruguay and even the Fiji islands. The Persian fallow deer (D. d. mesopotamica) once found in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Israel and Iraq is now endangered and survives only in western Iran.
Fallow deer are mostly found in deer parks or reserves but in the wild prefer mature woodlands, particularly deciduous or mixed with plenty of open areas. They have four main colour variations from the white or cream found in park populations to almost black or very dark brown. More typically they have a back of rich chestnut with characteristic white spots, a pale chest and white rump bordered with a black horseshoe shape. The tail has a central black line. Males, which grow impressive palmate antlers with many points, are up to 1m high at the shoulder and weigh up to 86kg. Females are smaller, without antlers. Fallow deer eat grasses, herbs, leaves, buds, shoots and bark, adding acorns, beech mast and other fruit in autumn. Bramble, holly, ivy and heather supplement grass in winter.
