Emperor of Exmoor: The stag believed to be the UK's largest wild animal is pictured in Devon 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.
I'm off: A smaller stag decides against issuing a challenge to the Emperor
Emperor at home: The stag is estimated to be about 12 years oldPhotographed 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.
source: dailymail
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