Dama dama

Fallow Deer at Belconnen, ACT

Dama dama at Belconnen, ACT - suppressed
Dama dama at Belconnen, ACT - suppressed
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Identification history

Dama dama 24 Jul 2023 DonFletcher
Cervus elaphus 24 Jul 2023 JaneCarter

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User's notes

My photos are terrible but I could count 17 animals when I used binoculars. This is the most deer I have seen together in this location.

2 comments

DonFletcher wrote:
   24 Jul 2023
Hi Jane, thanks for the record. Red deer (Cervus elaphus) are very uncommon or rare now in the ACT and herds of them are never reported. We also have Sambar (Cervus unicolor) but they are large, dark, solitary and almost unbelievably secretive, so this is not Sambar. Most likely these are Fallow Deer (Dama dama) which is a herd forming species that is common and increasing in grassy areas of the ACT. The pale undersides that I think I can see in the photos indicate Fallow. In case you get another look at them, a photo that showed the antlers or the rear end would be diagnostic for any of these three species.
HelenCross wrote:
   24 Jul 2023
That's a big mob!

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Location information

Sighting information

Species information

  • Dama dama Scientific name
  • Fallow Deer Common name
  • Sensitive
  • Exotic
  • Major weed or pest
  • Up to 2081m Recorded at altitude

Record quality

  • Images or audio
  • More than one media file
  • Verified by an expert moderator
  • Nearby sighting(s) of same species
  • GPS evidence of location
  • Description
  • Additional attributes
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