Your top 5 favorite Deer

Only including species I have seen:
1. Moose
2. Elk
3. Reindeer
4. Reeves Muntjac
5. Southern Pudu
 
1. European Moose*
2. Roe Deer
3. European Forest Reindeer
4. Pére David's Deer
5. Tufted Deer

*regrettably, I am going against my core values of avoiding americanisms wherever possible, because 'moose' sounds better than 'elk,' and avoids confusion with wapiti.

I expected this would be a challenging list to compile as I am not all too knowledgeable on deer, but when I sat down and made a list it came to me straight away, as these five species definitely interest me a great deal more than the rest.

The moose are probably one of my favourite ever animals. I couldn't tell you what it is but they have fascinated me since a child. I miss the days of seeing them regularly at Whipsnade, and they are probably part of the reason that I fell in love with the place as much as I did. It was such a pleasure to be 'reunited' with the species after so many years at Prague last summer, and I only hope that one day, somewhere more local will grant me the privilege of being able to see them often once again. Roe Deer were also an easy shout for second place due to many fond memories of seeing them in the wild while cycling through Germany and Czechia. Third place comes down to my childhood love for London's reindeer, and as such the delight that I felt upon seeing the wild variant for the first time at Highland WP not long ago, and the further delight realising that Whipsnade recently acquired some (not quite a moose replacement, but close). Fourth place is yet again due to fond Whipsnade memories, both seeing them myself at said collection, and reading about how working with them there in part inspired Gerald Durrell to pursue conservation to the level that he did in 'Beasts in my Belfry.' Finally, the Tufted Deer placement is, believe it or not, nothing to do with the ZTL-inspired rumours that Whipsnade has just acquired some, but instead is simply due to how those bizarre fangs, and the extent to which said fangs caught me of guard when seeing the species for the first time at Magdeburg, a complete surprise lifetick.

Honourable mentions would be Chinese Water Deer and Reeve's Muntjac, due to fond memories of searching for the free-roamers at Whipsnade, Axis Deer / Chital due to their striking appearance and although I am yet to see them, any of the other Moose subspecies.
 
#5 Siberian musk deer - I like the fact they got fangs

#4 Moose - seeing a bull moose was probably one of the coolest experiences at a zoo, one of the animals I most want to see in the wild

#3 brow-antlered deer - seeing them at Bronx made me realize how close to Schomburgk’s deer they look…

#2 Perè David’s deer - idk why I just really like them

#1 White-lipped deer - an animal I grew to appreciate more and more as time went on, when I first saw them years back at Rosamond Gifford Zoo I thought they were interesting… but didn’t care too much about them. Later on I learned just how rare they were and it made me appreciate them more. They eventually became my favorite animals there. What sucks is that zoo goers hardly payed attention to them as they were right across from the elephants and the few people who actually gave attention to them, they didn’t even know what they were! I’ve heard people call them elk, moose, caribou and even gnus (when I told the person who called it a gnu, it was a deer, they were shocked as they didn’t think deer could get that big). Now that they aren’t there anymore I just wish people cared more about them when they were there.
 
#5 Siberian musk deer - I like the fact they got fangs

#4 Moose - seeing a bull moose was probably one of the coolest experiences at a zoo, one of the animals I most want to see in the wild

#3 brow-antlered deer - seeing them at Bronx made me realize how close to Schomburgk’s deer they look…

#2 Perè David’s deer - idk why I just really like them

#1 White-lipped deer - an animal I grew to appreciate more and more as time went on, when I first saw them years back at Rosamond Gifford Zoo I thought they were interesting… but didn’t care too much about them. Later on I learned just how rare they were and it made me appreciate them more. They eventually became my favorite animals there. What sucks is that zoo goers hardly payed attention to them as they were right across from the elephants and the few people who actually gave attention to them, they didn’t even know what they were! I’ve heard people call them elk, moose, caribou and even gnus (when I told the person who called it a gnu, it was a deer, they were shocked as they didn’t think deer could get that big). Now that they aren’t there anymore I just wish people cared more about them when they were there.

Well put! I especially like your reasoning for the White-lipped Deer! I agree and hope to see one one day.
 
1. Moose
2. European Red Deer
3. Perè David’s Deer
4. Reeve's Muntjac
5. Anhui Musk Deer
 
1. Fallow Deer
2. Axis Deer (What can I say? I like the spotted ones).
3. Caribou (My favorite is the Peary caribou).
4. Moose
5. Elk/Red Deer

I may even get to see elk this weekend in the wild!
 
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