Dappled deer

The deer is a fairly large animal. The length of his body can be from 100 to 150 centimeters, and the mass - more than 100 kilograms. Spotted deer features an elegant, graceful physique. A cloven-hoofed animal has a bright reddish color in the spring period and a gray-brown winter. In summer, on the animal's fur (in the region of the sides and back), characteristic light spots appear. In winter, they are less visible. This feature is the main distinguishing feature of the spotty deer. The animal's coat is coarse and quite brittle. The wool on the back is painted in a darker color and resembles a strip, which then passes to the tail. The neck of a cloven-hoofed animal is long and graceful, the head is proportional, the ears are quite large. Around the tail there is also a white speck, which is bounded by a dark stripe.

The motherland of the deer is the Far East (Primorsky and Khabarovsk Krai, the Ussuri River valley ). It was from there to the European part of Russia, the Caucasus and the Urals in the late 30's were taken out these amazingly beautiful artiodactyls. Today, the Ussuri Spotted Deer lives mainly in mixed forests with grassy clearings and a luxuriant undergrowth. Also it can be found in floodplain thickets with an abundance of shrubs. The animal feeds on the kidneys, all kinds of herbs, bark, branches, acorns and nuts. At the meal deer usually go out in the morning and evening. However, in winter they can be seen on the pasture and in the middle of the day.

Spotted deer has luxurious horns, the length of which usually exceeds 80 centimeters, and their weight on the average is 1250 grams. In April, the animal drops its horns. Appearances appear in their place. It is from them that later new horns are formed. At the age of ten months the youngest specimen has the first three centimeters horns, which reach a maximum development only by 10 years.

Spotted deer are rare animals. It is listed in the Red Book. In the Far East at the beginning of the 20th century these artiodactyls were on the verge of extermination. Only thanks to special security measures it was possible to save them from extinction.

Spotted deer is an animal leading a herd life, uniting 5-9 individuals. These cloven-hoofed animals can often be seen near human dwellings, along roads and places of fertilizing. They are practically not afraid of people. In June, after eight months of pregnancy, the deer's female gives birth to one or two pups. Already on the third day after the birth, babies are able to follow their mother, and after nine days - independently graze. Young individuals remain with their mother until the next spring.

The spotted deer is a valuable animal. Its meat is very tasty and nutritious, and the skin is soft, strong and very durable. All over the world, it produces high-quality suede. Young horns of deer have amazing healing properties. Of these, a medicinal preparation known as Pantocrin is being manufactured. It is for this purpose across the country that special pantry farms are created, where animals live and reproduce freely. In summer, they cut off young horns (panties), which are then processed and used in medicine. The weight of pantov can reach up to one and a half kilograms.

The animal is able to swim and dive perfectly, can run for a long time. All sensory organs of the spotted deer are equally well developed. The gong begins in September and lasts until November. During this period, the males make a loud, hoarse roar. For each prolific deer, there are 3-4 females each. Sexual maturity in this animal comes to two years.

Particular danger for these graceful cloven-hoofed animals is represented by wolves, lynxes and many other predators. Young deer are often killed by foxes and raccoon dogs. The sexual maturity of the animal comes to two years.