'Ghost-like' white stag spotted in Scottish Highlands

BBC News ^ | 11th February 2008 | BBC News

[the scotsman]

'A rare white stag has been observed on the west coast of the Highlands.

The animal has been seen with other red deer by a member of the John Muir Trust, which has kept its location a secret to protect it from poachers.

The killing of a white stag on the Devon and Cornwall border last year sparked outrage.

Fran Lockhart, partnership manager for the trust, caught the young Highland deer on camera. She described it as "ghost-like".

She said: "I am thrilled to know that there is a white stag roaming free out there in the Scottish Highlands and that I was privileged enough to be able to spend an hour observing him.

"We will be watching this animal with interest, particularly as he will be reaching his full potential in the next couple of years."

The trust said white deer were potent figures in the mythology of many cultures.

Celts considered them to be messengers from the otherworld.'

[Rider on the Rain]

If i understand it correctly red deer are what we in the U.S. call elk.

[Vaquero]

red deer are a different sub species from American Elk (wapiti) but they can interbreed and can produce a viable offspring.

[Winniesboy]

The red deer is cervus elaphus, the largest native British mammal. Although found elsewhere in Europe, I had not understood it was found in North America (unless an introduction). The much larger (and slower) moose-like elk became extinct in Britain approximately 1000 years ago, but survives elsewhere in Northern Europe, particularly Scandinavia.

[Tallguy]

Interesting!

[Rider on the Rain]

Thanks, interesting indeed.

[Mr. Jazzy]

Any relation to the Great White Buffalo?

Somebody get Ted Nugent on the line and tell him to bring his bow!!!

[tiredoflaundry]

[the scotsman]

If he comes over here to kill our beautiful deer, I’ll take said bow from that 70’s has-been and shove it up his ****...lol

[MadMitch]

sideways I hope!