There has been a rare sighting of Britain's largest wild animal - the Emperor of Exmoor.
The red deer stag lives in the Exmoor National Park which straddles the counties of Devon and Somerset in south west England. He weighs 300lb and stands an impressive 9 feet from floor to the top of his antlers.
Red deer are Britain's largest land animals, but the Emperor is the largest of them all.
However, the Emperor of Exmoor is not often seen by the public as his whereabouts is kept a secret so that he is not the target of evil poachers.
He was snapped by wildlife photographer Richard Austin, who tracked him down earlier this month.
It is currently rutting season for the red stags, meaning that the Emperor has the opportunity to show off his impressive frame to attract the ladies.
Red deer are found in Europe, Asia Minor, and Western and Central Asia. They are also found in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco and Tunisia, making them Africa's only deer.
The English red deer are larger than their Scottish counterparts.
Return of the Emperor: Back for his yearly stag do, majestic beast that could be our biggest wild animal
By Luke Salkeld
5th October 2010
Daily Mail
He doesn’t make many public appearances.
But whenever he shows up at his annual stag do – otherwise known as the mating season – the Emperor of Exmoor always makes an impression.
Thought to be the largest wild animal in the British Isles, he weighs around 300lb and stands 9ft tall from the ground to top of his antlers.
Magnificent: The stag believed to be the UK's largest wild animal is pictured in Devon
I'm off: A smaller stag decides against issuing a challenge to the Emperor
I'm the boss: The stag is estimated to be about 12 years old
Photographed on his traditional stamping ground near the Devon and Somerset border, his precise location is kept a closely guarded secret for fear that poachers may try to stalk him.
The mating season lasts until the end of this month, giving the Emperor plenty of time to prove he’s still the UK’s alpha male.
Wildlife photographer Richard Austin, who tracked him down earlier this month, said: ‘I’m so glad he’s come back again looking even bigger and better than last year.
‘He’s so big none of the others are willing take him on.’
‘The way he struts around thrashing his massive set of antlers into the hedges lets everyone know who’s boss,’ Mr Austin added.
Local wild deer expert Peter Donnelly said after a sighting of the Emperor last year: ‘Red deer stags are the biggest indigenous land animal left in these islands, so it is possible that this is the largest wild animal in the country today.
'The deer on Exmoor are larger than the ones in Scotland because of their diet, and this is a very fine beast. He’s so big and powerful.’
He added: ‘He should be encouraged to breed — under no circumstances should anyone try to hunt or shoot him.’
The Exmoor Emperor is estimated to be between ten and 12 years old – nearly a pensioner in red deer terms – based on sightings in Exmoor.
However, it is impossible to know the exact age of a wild deer until it is dead and its teeth can be examined.
dailymail.co.uk
The red deer stag lives in the Exmoor National Park which straddles the counties of Devon and Somerset in south west England. He weighs 300lb and stands an impressive 9 feet from floor to the top of his antlers.
Red deer are Britain's largest land animals, but the Emperor is the largest of them all.
However, the Emperor of Exmoor is not often seen by the public as his whereabouts is kept a secret so that he is not the target of evil poachers.
He was snapped by wildlife photographer Richard Austin, who tracked him down earlier this month.
It is currently rutting season for the red stags, meaning that the Emperor has the opportunity to show off his impressive frame to attract the ladies.
Red deer are found in Europe, Asia Minor, and Western and Central Asia. They are also found in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco and Tunisia, making them Africa's only deer.
The English red deer are larger than their Scottish counterparts.
Return of the Emperor: Back for his yearly stag do, majestic beast that could be our biggest wild animal
By Luke Salkeld
5th October 2010
Daily Mail
He doesn’t make many public appearances.
But whenever he shows up at his annual stag do – otherwise known as the mating season – the Emperor of Exmoor always makes an impression.
Thought to be the largest wild animal in the British Isles, he weighs around 300lb and stands 9ft tall from the ground to top of his antlers.
Magnificent: The stag believed to be the UK's largest wild animal is pictured in Devon
I'm off: A smaller stag decides against issuing a challenge to the Emperor
I'm the boss: The stag is estimated to be about 12 years old
Photographed on his traditional stamping ground near the Devon and Somerset border, his precise location is kept a closely guarded secret for fear that poachers may try to stalk him.
The mating season lasts until the end of this month, giving the Emperor plenty of time to prove he’s still the UK’s alpha male.
Wildlife photographer Richard Austin, who tracked him down earlier this month, said: ‘I’m so glad he’s come back again looking even bigger and better than last year.
‘He’s so big none of the others are willing take him on.’
‘The way he struts around thrashing his massive set of antlers into the hedges lets everyone know who’s boss,’ Mr Austin added.
Local wild deer expert Peter Donnelly said after a sighting of the Emperor last year: ‘Red deer stags are the biggest indigenous land animal left in these islands, so it is possible that this is the largest wild animal in the country today.
'The deer on Exmoor are larger than the ones in Scotland because of their diet, and this is a very fine beast. He’s so big and powerful.’
He added: ‘He should be encouraged to breed — under no circumstances should anyone try to hunt or shoot him.’
The Exmoor Emperor is estimated to be between ten and 12 years old – nearly a pensioner in red deer terms – based on sightings in Exmoor.
However, it is impossible to know the exact age of a wild deer until it is dead and its teeth can be examined.
dailymail.co.uk
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