Five Caucasian Red Deer to be Released into the Forest at Dilijan National Park

At the "Dilijan" National Park, there are currently 26 Caucasian red deer at the breeding center, and soon five of them will be released into the forest. This was announced by the Ministry of Environment of Armenia.

Until 1954, the Caucasian red deer was widely distributed across the northern, eastern, and southern forests of Armenia. However, due to poaching and rampant deforestation, they gradually disappeared from Armenian territory.

The "Reintroduction Program for the Caucasian Red Deer in Armenia" was initiated by the Ministry of Environment of Armenia and the Armenian branch of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in 2013. The Caucasus Nature Fund (CNF) has also played a significant role in the implementation of the program.

Today, the Caucasian red deer is listed in the Red Book of Armenia and is classified as "Critically Endangered" according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) standards.