The Living Forest (267) : Red Deer

The Living Forest (267) : Red Deer

It’s autumn, in the forest the mating ritual of the Red Deer, called the rut, has begun again.

Mature stags (males) compete for the attentions of the hinds (females) with a very distinctive and loud "roar" that can be heard for miles around in the forest.
The hinds are initially attracted to those stags that both roar most often and have the loudest roar call.

After roaring the whole night, antler fights with other competitors and (maybe) mating, the stag in the shot showed up out of the forest in the very first sun light of the autumn day.
If you ask me, the ‘King of the Forest’ looks tired and exhausted…..

Dutch name : Edelhert
German name : Rothirsch
Latin name : Cervus elaphus

Location : Hertogenwald at Eupen (Belgium)

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Something else :

Meanwhile, also the hunting season opened again and I saw plenty of hunters wandering around in the woods at present.
They have only 1 aim : killing animals. Not because they are hungry or because their children are starving, no they just kill for fun !
Let's hope that this beautiful and defenseless animal that I spotted will not be murdered by one of those 'nature-loving' hunters.

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A big thanks to JX for the nomination of this picture !