Deer (Cervus; Ukrainian: olen). Genus of cloven-hoofed mammals, which are hunted for sport and commercial purposes (deer meat, hide, and antlers). In Ukraine the red deer (C. elaphus) is the prevalent species; its body length is approximately 220–250 cm; tail length, up to 16 cm; height (hooves to withers), 86–165 cm; weight, up to 500 kg. At one time deer were to be encountered throughout Ukraine; today their habitat is restricted to the Carpathian Mountains, the Caucasus Mountains, and the Crimea, as well as to a number of breeding grounds. In Ukraine deer hunting is regulated by license. In the Askaniia-Nova Nature Reserve and Black Sea Biosphere Reserve and in several areas of the forest-steppe two species of deer have become acclimatized: the sika deer (C. nippon), with a body length of 160–180 cm, height (hooves to withers) of 85–118 cm, and weight of up to 148 kg; and the fallow deer (C. dama dama), height of about 90 cm (hooves to withers).

[This article originally appeared in the Encyclopedia of Ukraine, vol. 1 (1984).]