Red deer: Wild animal of the year 2026 – A symbol for MV!

Red deer: Wild animal of the year 2026 – A symbol for MV!

Today we can look a little proud at our majestic red deer because he was recently named Wild Animal of the Year 2026! This choice was made through a public online vote by the German Wildlife Foundation, in which the red deer prevailed against the golden jackal and the stoat. With this award, the experts would like to draw attention to the challenges facing this impressive animal species. NDR Daily Mirror Time

With around 220,000 red deer living in Germany, our native wilderness is well populated and can be found on around a quarter of the country's area. As the largest regularly occurring deer species in our country, they are best looked after, especially in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. There they enjoy optimal living conditions, while in other federal states such as Bavaria or North Rhine-Westphalia they are often strictly hunted and are only permitted in certain areas.

A retreat into the woods

The red deer prefers open, undisturbed regions and feels particularly comfortable in meadows and fields with loose groups of trees. But constant hunting and human influence often force it back into the forests, where it not only consumes enormous quantities of plants, but also influences the vegetation, thereby creating habitats for many other animals. A forest is their retreat, but the deer actively change their environment for the better by creating clearings that provide a habitat for new plants and insects.

Its migrations are also crucial for the ecosystem. Young red deer migrate long distances - this promotes genetic exchange, but poses dangers. Roads and other human structures often stand between them and new habitats, leading to isolated populations and threatening genetic diversity. Experts are already warning that an extinction process is beginning. Daily Mirror

Nature conservation in focus

How can you help the red deer? Experts are calling, among other things, for the construction of green bridges over motorways in order to better connect habitats. Hunters also play an important role in species conservation; They should actively participate in not disturbing the migration of red deer or not hunting those animals that are looking for new habitats. The species protection project in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania aims to save the red deer population and promote their reproduction. NDR

The red deer have now found a new home in Alt Warp and are enjoying great popularity there. Local residents have even given them their own names, which shows how connected the local people are to this magnificent species. But time pressure is increasing - conservationists warn that the decline in genetic diversity could seriously endanger the future of red deer. This makes it all the more important that we all keep our eyes open and take the necessary steps to conserve this beautiful animal.