Weiße Hubertushirsche

Description

The Weiße Hubertushirsche enclosure at Bayern-Park is home to white Hubertus deer, a color variant of the red deer. The name Hubertushirsch refers to the red deer as the symbol of Saint Hubertus, the patron of hunters. Animals in the enclosure have been present since the days of the Vilstaler Wildpark, which preceded the current park and was founded by the Hochholzer family. The deer are strict herbivores. During summer they feed primarily on grass, while in winter the park supplements their diet with hay and silage. In the wild, their diet also includes herbs, leaves, tree bark, and field crops such as potatoes, corn, and oats. The rut begins in September and lasts five to six weeks. After a gestation period of around 230 days, females typically give birth to a single calf. Adult animals reach a body weight of between 150 and 350 kg and have a life expectancy of 12 to 18 years. The deer are highly social animals and live in herds that are single-sex outside of the breeding season. Males grow antlers that can weigh up to 15 kg; females, known as Kahlwild, do not develop antlers at all. White individuals are rare in the wild because their coloring offers no camouflage. At Bayern-Park, the deer are known to enjoy displaying their antlers and have a particular interest in watching guests pass by on the nearby summer toboggan run.