New Zealand Introduced Animals > Fallow Deer

Fallow Deer

Dama dama

INTRODUCED; COMMON; RESIDENT

ORIGIN: Fallow deer originally inhabited Asia, Southern Europe and North Africa. First introduced to New Zealand in 1864.

HABITAT: During the day they prefer thick bush cover and spend the early evening grazing in the open when the risk of danger is lower.

BREEDING: During the mating season (also known as the roar) the stag attempts to widen and protect his territory. The bigger he can make his territory the more females he will have. Pregnancy lasts 34 weeks, resulting in a single fawn in early summer.

FOOD: Deer are grazers so their main diet is grass, but they will also eat fresh shoots off plants and trees.

GENERAL: The fallow deer stands at just under a metre tall at the shoulder. Mature bucks carry ‘palmate antlers’ (webbed and broadly flattened). Their coat colour is variable ranging from nearly white to dark chocolate in colour.


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