Baby boom among the red deer in the Oberrabenstein game reserve
Tierpark Chemnitz: Offspring of Germany's largest deer species on display
Over the past few months, there has been a real baby boom among the red deer at the Oberrabenstein game enclosure, which is part of Chemnitz Zoo. After two calves were born in May, ten more were born in June - more than ever before in the game reserve.
The period corresponds to the typical settling time for red deer. Normally, the adult animal gives birth at the end of May, but mainly in June. The gestation period lasts eight and a half months. Accordingly, the rut takes place from mid-September to mid-October. As a rule, only one calf is born.
The red deer herd at the Oberrabenstein game reserve currently consists of 37 animals. The sexes of the young animals are not yet known. They are suckled until late summer, occasionally even throughout the winter. It is only in autumn that it may be possible to recognise a slightly thicker head in the stag calves - but this is a rather uncertain characteristic. The forehead cones - the so-called rosebud - on which the antlers later sit may be recognisable.
As with most antlered animals, only the males of red deer have antlers. These are newly formed every year and primarily serve as an eye-catcher for mutual recognition. During the rut, serious antler fights take place between equal rivals. The stags shed their antlers from the end of February until April. At the age of 11 to 13 years, the stag wears its strongest antlers. However, the number of ends on a red deer's antlers is not a sign of age. Red deer are antlerless and are therefore called "bald deer".
After the bison, red deer are the largest wild land mammals in Germany. Of all antlered animals, they have the largest range worldwide. Due to their hunting and cultural-historical significance, they are exhibited in many zoological institutions. Despite this fame, there are always people who mistake roe deer for female red deer. However, red deer are categorised as real deer, whereas roe deer are categorised as deer. These are two different subfamilies within the deer family.
Opening hours in summer
Animal park: 9 am to 7 pm, last admission 6 pm
Game enclosure: 9 am to 6 pm, last admission 5 pm