A shadow in the distance rushes over a field between Schoonloo and Orvelte. If the image becomes sharper, it becomes clear what kind of colossus hops through the fields. As far as is known, it is the only red deer in Drenthe. that is filmed from a car. The images were sent to the editors of RTV Drenthe.
According to ecologist Peter Venema, the deer shows occasionally, but it is rare that it is caught on the screen. “There is only one in Drenthe, so yes it is special.” On Waarneming.nl, several reports were made of a red deer in Drenthe last year. On that site, users can indicate which animals and plants they have observed where. The red deer is spotted in roughly the area between Grolloo and Meppen.
On the images, the male runs away from the car, makes a sharp turn and continues his way. “I can imagine that he feels hunted and disturbed,” says Venema. The ecologist states that the species is rather human.
The red deer is the largest mammal that lives in the wild in the Netherlands, including in the Veluwe and the Oostvaardersplassen. Males are larger than the females and can become more than two meters long (head-hull) and weigh more than 200 kilos. An impressive appearance. The Drenthe copy is estimated by Venema in about six years. “In the winter of 2023-2024, the animal was first observed by Staatsbosbeheer on the ecoduct at the Dwingelderveld. Then it went on towards the Gees forestry.”
There it came across another man. Venema: “They raised together for a while. But the other person left in the rut period in October, I think to look for women.”
The province of Drenthe is not very hospitable compared to red deer. A few may walk around, but as soon as there is a chance of reproduction, there is the chance that people will shot. The animal can cause damage to crops.
Venema has also seen the Drenthe red deer with his own eyes. How is that? “A surprise. It is a huge animal and I am surprised how well it can hide. If you see it, you should especially enjoy it. You only have a moment, because as soon as the red deer sees people, it runs away.”