Reintroduction and conservation efforts, such as in the United Kingdom and Portugal, have resulted in an increase of red deer populations, while other areas, such as North Africa, have continued to show a population decline. Īlthough at one time red deer were rare in parts of Europe, they were never close to extinction. The ancestor of all red deer (and wapiti) probably originated in central Asia and resembled sika deer. The closely related and slightly larger American elk, or wapiti, native to North America and northeastern Asia, had been regarded as a subspecies of red deer, but recently it has been established as a distinct species.

Genetic evidence indicates that the red deer, as traditionally defined, is a species group, rather than a single species, though exactly how many species the group includes remains disputed. Red deer are ruminants, characterized by a four-chambered stomach. In many parts of the world, the meat ( venison) from red deer is used as a food source.

Red deer have been introduced to other areas, including Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Canada, Peru, Uruguay, Chile and Argentina. It also inhabits the Atlas Mountains of Northern Africa being the only living species of deer to inhabit Africa. The red deer inhabits most of Europe, the Caucasus Mountains region, Anatolia, Iran, and parts of western Asia. A male red deer is called a stag or hart, and a female is called a hind. The red deer ( Cervus elaphus) is one of the largest deer species.

Male elk size