Emperor of Exmoor facts for kids
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The Emperor of Exmoor was a very large red stag, a male red deer. This famous deer was reportedly killed in October 2010. People estimated it weighed over 136 kilograms (300 pounds) and stood about 2.7 meters (9 feet) tall. Red deer living in Exmoor National Park are often bigger than those in Scotland. This is because of the different foods they eat.
Contents
The Mystery of the Emperor
The Emperor of Exmoor got its special name from a photographer named Richard Austin. People said its body was found near the A361 road in Devon. This happened during the annual breeding season for deer.
Was the Story True?
Reports claimed the deer was killed by a hunter who had a license. One person even said they heard two gunshots. However, just a few days later, other people said they had seen the Emperor alive! This made many wonder if the whole story was made up. Very few of the reported facts could be proven true. The newspaper The Guardian even called the story "a myth."
The Emperor's Life and Health
At the time of the claim, people thought the Emperor of Exmoor was about 12 years old. Even at that age, he was believed to be healthy.
Managing Deer Populations
Sometimes, older deer are removed from a population. This is called "culling" and it helps manage the deer herd. It might happen if their front teeth, called incisors, are too worn down. Worn teeth make it hard for them to eat and survive the winter. However, someone who used to work with deer said that the Emperor was still healthy enough to live. He was "starting to get past his best, but he was definitely not at that stage yet."
Hunting and Deer in Britain
Deer stalking, which is a type of hunting, is allowed in Britain. This is under a law called the Deer Act 1991. Hunters must always get permission from the landowner before they hunt.
The Debate Over Hunting
Some people believe that hunting should not happen during the deer's breeding season. They think it's important to protect the animals at this time. However, hunting is legal. The national park authority says that hunting is important for managing the deer population. It also helps the local economy.
A Call for Change
After the possible death of the Emperor of Exmoor, some members of Parliament (MPs) wanted to ban hunting wild animals in Britain. They signed a special document to show their support for this idea.
The Head at the Hotel
In December 2011, a deer head that looked like the Emperor's was put on display. It was hung in the Hartnoll Hotel in Bolham, Devon. But the hotel later took the head down. This happened after they received many complaints and threats because of the controversy.
