Listen to an audio interview with scientist Alan McElligott who studies fallow deer
Fallow deer are one of the six species of deer that live wild in the UK and like many other species of deer they have a seasonal rut. Although they have been here since the 11th century we are only now just starting to understand how that rut works.
Allen McElligott, a scientist at Queen Mary, University of London, has been studying the fallow deer rut to try and find out why certain males seem to be more successful in attracting a mate than others. Is it the size of their antlers, their looks or something a little bit deeper? Listen to him unravel the mysteries behind who gets to be top dog in the rut.
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