Many animals in various countries have been chosen as national symbols. In Russia, it is traditionally considered a bear, but there is an animal that may well challenge its right to be considered a symbol of the country. This is a red deer living in Transbaikalia and the Far East.
Red deer - decoration of the Far Eastern taiga
Red deer is a Siberian deer, a close relative of the European red deer. This is a beautiful, powerful, truly noble animal. The body length of the largest specimens of male red deer reaches two and a half meters, they wear a magnificent crown of branched horns. Usually the number of branches (branches) on them coincides with the number of years lived by this animal. Red deer females are more graceful and have smaller horns.
In early March, the animal sheds its horns, and new ones begin to grow in their place. At first, these horns are very small, soft, covered with velvety skin. They are called antlers. The substances that are rich in antlers are the healing basis of many medicines of oriental medicine. Unfortunately, this, and not only tasty meat, is the reason for the uncontrolled hunting of red deer and a significant decrease in its number in recent years.
Red deer live in harsh conditions, therefore they are covered with thick, but short fur (15 mm), the color of which changes depending on the season. In summer it is bright red, and the tail "mirror" is reddish, outlined with a black stripe. By winter, red deer becomes silvery gray. Red deer has no undercoat.
Like European deer, the rutting period begins in red deer in September-October, when males compete for the possession of females. At this time, the taiga is literally filled with the roar of male red deer. By the timbre of the voice, the age of the male can be determined. In young bulls, it is higher. The strongest and most successful males gather around themselves whole harems of females. Red deer calves are born from May to June. As a rule, one female gives birth to one calf, very rarely two.
Where do red deer live
Red deer are still found in the wild. They live on the territory of Russia in Transbaikalia and in the Far East. They are also found in the Irkutsk region. The natural habitat of these animals also includes the northern regions of China and even Korea. But now they are very rare there.
These animals prefer to live in the valleys of taiga rivers with pebble banks. In the summer they climb the mountains around them, where they are blown by the breeze and there is not so much gnat. In winter, on the contrary, they go down into the dark coniferous taiga. They walk mainly in stride, although young females can make large leaps.
Red deer is a herbivore. It feeds on grass, if found, but the basis of its menu is the bark of trees, usually aspen.
