FALLOW DEER (DAMA DAMA) ARE A SPECIES OF DEER NATIVE TO WESTERN AND CENTRAL EUROPE AND ASIA. THEY ARE MEDIUM-SIZED DEER, WITH MALES WEIGHING AROUND 120-200 LBS AND FEMALES WEIGHING AROUND 90-110 LBS. FALLOW DEER ARE KNOWN FOR THEIR ANTLER SHAPE AND DISTINCTIVE COAT COLORATION, WHICH VARIES FROM LIGHT TAN TO DARK BROWN AND CAN EVEN BE BLACK OR WHITE.

FALLOW DEER ARE GENERALLY DOCILE AND ARE OFTEN KEPT AS ORNAMENTAL ANIMALS IN PARKS AND GARDENS. THEY ARE ALSO POPULAR GAME ANIMALS AND ARE OFTEN HUNTED FOR THEIR MEAT AND THEIR ANTLERS. FALLOW DEER WERE INTRODUCED TO NORTH AMERICA BY GEORGE WASHINGTON, WHO BROUGHT A SMALL HERD TO HIS ESTATE AT MOUNT VERNON IN 1787. WASHINGTON WAS INTERESTED IN BREEDING AND HUNTING FALLOW DEER AS A SOURCE OF MEAT AND AS A SOURCE OF REVENUE. THE DEER WERE A SUCCESS AT MOUNT VERNON AND WERE LATER INTRODUCED TO OTHER PARTS OF THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING NEW YORK AND PENNSYLVANIA.

FALLOW DEER HAVE A NUMBER OF INTERESTING CHARACTERISTICS AND BEHAVIORS. THEY ARE KNOWN FOR THEIR VOCALIZATIONS, WHICH INCLUDE A VARIETY OF GRUNTS, BARKS, AND WHISTLES. THEY ARE ALSO KNOWN FOR THEIR ABILITY TO RUN AT HIGH SPEEDS, REACHING SPEEDS OF UP TO 35 MPH. FALLOW DEER ARE SOCIAL ANIMALS AND OFTEN LIVE IN SMALL HERDS, WITH MALES AND FEMALES LIVING IN SEPARATE HERDS EXCEPT DURING THE BREEDING SEASON.

FALLOW DEER ARE KNOWN FOR THEIR UNIQUE ANTLERS, WHICH ARE SHAPED LIKE A FAN AND ARE USED FOR DISPLAY AND TERRITORIAL BEHAVIOR. MALE FALLOW DEER SHED THEIR ANTLERS EVERY YEAR AND GROW NEW ONES, WHILE FEMALES DO NOT GROW ANTLERS. THE SIZE AND SHAPE OF A FALLOW DEER'S ANTLERS IS DETERMINED BY A VARIETY OF FACTORS, INCLUDING AGE, NUTRITION, AND GENETICS.

FALLOW DEER HAVE A LONG HISTORY AND HAVE BEEN DEPICTED IN ART AND LITERATURE FOR CENTURIES. THEY WERE ONCE CONSIDERED SACRED ANIMALS IN MANY CULTURES AND WERE OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH ROYALTY. IN MODERN TIMES, FALLOW DEER ARE CONSIDERED A SYMBOL OF GRACE AND BEAUTY AND ARE OFTEN DEPICTED IN ART AND LITERATURE AS SYMBOLS OF NATURE AND THE NATURAL WORLD.