PRODUCTIONS: THE KING OF THE SARDINIAN FOREST

DIRECTOR

PRODUCER

DURATION

VERSIONS

FORMAT

Carlo & Lodovico Prola

SD Cinematografica

30'

SD

The Sardinian red deer (Cervus elaphus corsicanus), an indigenous Sardinian-Corsican subspecies of the Red deer, has for some time been on the list of animal in danger of extinction. It has completely disappeared from Corsica but is present in Sardinia in several circumscribed areas.
These hoofed animals live in various types of natural environments. In the highlands in the southern part of the island, they live in thick brushwood and woods. Along the western coast the animal has established itself in more open areas extending as far as the splendid dunes of the Piscinas coast.
The Sardinian red deer is a social species with the fermales and young deer forming into small groups, while the male adults, who are generally solitary, gather into herds only during the mating season. The latter occurs earlier in Sardinia than on the mainland, reaching its climax during the month of September when the woods and brushwood echo with the cries of the males. The young are born in the spring when the luxuriant vegetation offers rich grazing lands that facilitate milking the fawns.
Each year, especially in the spring and summer, researchers and volunteers control, study and take a census of the deer population. As a result of the protection they enjoy and the intense fight against poaching, the Sardinian population has grown to 3.000. But this does not mean that the Sardinian red deer can be considered out of danger.