Presentation took place in the frame of the Open Forum for Platoni of Rhodes, organized by the Rhodes Volunteers NGO. Παρουσίαση που πραγματοποιήθηκε στο πλαίσιο του Ανοιχτού Φόρουμ για το Πλατόνι στη Ρόδο. Οργάνωση: Εθελοντές Ρόδου Στήριξη: Τμήμα Πολιτισμού Δωδεκανήσου, Περιφέρειας Νοτίου Αιγαίου & Πηγές Καλλιθέας ΔΕΡΜΑΕ Αρωγή: ΚΕΚ Γ.Γεννηματάς

1. The fallow deer of Rhodes, Dama dama dama
(L., 1758): surviving against all odds
Marco Masseti
● IUCN Deer Specialist Group
● Department of Biology of the University of Florence, Italy

2. The occurrence on Rhodes of a population of common fallow
deer, Dama dama dama (L., 1758), is documented at least since
the late 6th-early 5th millennium BC

3. … when it was imported from continental Asia Minor by man

4. This population can be regarded as the oldest still surviving on
any Mediterranean island, and the oldest fallow deer stock still
surviving within the Greek territory

5. Evidence for the introduction of the species in Rhodes have been
provided by the archaeological exploration of several prehistoric
island sites, such as the cave of Aghios Georgios, near Kalythies,
Assomatos and/or Trianda

6. In historic times, Rhodes has been traditionallly regarded as a
sampling point of fallow deer that were taken to western Europe
to embellish palaces and game parks
Fauburg Saint-Marcel factory, The Queen distributes the spoils, post 1607, Wool, silk and gold,
497 x 166 cm ( Mobilier National & Manufactures des Gobelins, Paris)

7. Thus, the animal became the symbol of the island at least since
the 16th-17th century …
Fauburg Saint-Marcel factory, detail of The Queen distributes the spoils, post 1607, Wool, silk
and gold, 497 x 166 cm ( Mobilier National & Manufactures des Gobelins, Paris)

8. … as it was well understood by the Italians that used to keep a
herd of fallow deer in the moat surrounding the old town of
Rhodes, during their rule of the Dodecanese
photo by D.R. Peretti-Griva, Torino

9. From that time onwards, the image of fallow deer appears as the
symbol of Rhodes in the statues of the harbour entrance and in
other numerous artistic objects

10. However, although fallow deer prospered in Europe, their
numbers in Rhodes and in the rest of Asia Minor almost certainly
decreased as a result of uncontrolled hunting (Borovali, 1986;
Chapman &Chapman, 1997)

11. Thus, the recent demographic history of the populations of this cervid is
intrinsically related to its human domestication and, consequently, it is not
surprising that the majority of genetic studies carried out on this species
document a general lack of variability in European fallow deer populations
(Pemberton & Smith, 1985; Hartl, Schleger & Slowak, 1986; Randi &
Apollonio, 1988; Dratch & Pemberton, 1992; but see also Masseti et al., 1997),
probably resulting from the effects of genetic drift, the founder effect and/or
bottlenecks
Low biochemical variability and lack of polymorphism in the extant fallow deer
of western Europe

12. However, the latest techniques for investigating population
genetics have shown that the Rhodian fallow deer are very
special, being of ancient lineage distinct even from the Turkish
relic population of Düzlerçami, which was formerly regarded as
the likely source of the stock introduced in Neolitic times
(Masseti et al., 1996; 2006; 2008)

14. • putatively last remnant
• autochthonous wild populations
• in Asia Minor
• first area to be interested by
• human-mediated translocations
• since Neolithic times
• Masseti et al. (2008):
• first molecular characterization of
• samples from Turkey, Rhodes, Italy,
• Continental Greece, Hungary, and
Portugal

15. Sequences analysis of 417 base pairs [bp] of the D-loop
has clearly shown that, contrary to previuos genetic surveys on
samples from western Europe, significant genetic diversity extists
in eastern Mediterranean populations of
fallow deer

16. A molecular survey of mtDNA sequence variation in individuals
from Turkey, Rhodes, Italy, continental Greece and Hungary,
(Masseti et al. 2006; Masseti et al, 2008) revealed substantial
diversity and peculiar phylogeographical characteristics
This analysis identified three main clusters of mtDNA
haplotypes: one representing Turkish individuals, the second
representing individuals from Rhodes (which exhibited an 80
base pairs insertion, distinct to this cluster) and the third
representing all other individuals (including some from Rhodes,
which lacked the 80 base pair insertion: see Masseti et al. 2006,
and 2008)

17. The working hypothesys was that, perhaps, the mtDNA of the
Düzlerçami sample might have had some analogies with that of
the extant Rhodian deer
But the results were as follows….

18. The Rhodian population,
presumably founded by humans in Neolithic times,
posses a set of mitochondrial lineages found in no other study
populations
All the specimems from Rhodes,
except two (haplotypes 5 and 11),
have an 80-bp [base pairs] insertion that shows no sequence
variation among individuals

19. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), D-loop result
maximum tree likelihood 1000 boostrap

20. The probable foundation of the Rhodian fallow deer population
by humans in Neolithic times has resulted in the chance
preservation of a significant portion of mitochondrial genetic
variability of the species up to the present

21. Thus it is not so difficult to understand how the survival of this
populaton represents not only the first documented instance of
‘ad hoc conservation’, but also is significant historically,
archaeologically and ecologically

22. Bred and hunted by humans for millennia, European fallow deer
are found in several colours variants, ranging from the white to
almost black
.

23. All the fallow deer of Rhodes fall, instead, within the common
colour coat variety (cf. Danford & Alston, 1880; Festa, 1914;
Wettstein, 1942; Masseti, 1996, 1999, 2002; Masseti & Vernesi,
2014), none showing the variations towards melanism, partial
depigmentation or albinism which may derive from artificial
breeds, such as the semi-domestic populations of western Europe
selected by man throughout historical times

24. The fallow deer of Rhodes are characterized by the colour
phenotype regarded as the typical of the wild form (cf. Chapman
& Chapman, 1975; Macdonald & Barrett, 1993; Masseti, 2002)
In summer, this is reddish brown over the head, upper side of the
neck, back, flanks and the upper, outer sides of the legs, liberally
spattered with white spots on the back and upper flanks; in
winter, it assumes a darker, duller and greyer brown appearance
and the spots become barely detectable

25. The proof that, during the Italian domination, no move was made
to import fallow deer originating from Italy can be deduced from
the fact that the Rhodian population of the ungulate is made up
only of specimens characterised by the wild phenotype … variety

26. … while, as we know, about a third of the historic populations of
Italian fallow deer is made up of the black variety

27. Today it is reputed that Rhodian fallow deer do not exceed a few
hundred in the wild, and appear to be seriously threatened by
poaching and by the continual reduction of the natural areas
suitable for its diffusion (Masseti 2007, Masseti et al. 2008;
Masseti & Vernesi, 2014)

28. The fact that Rhodian fallow deer can be considered as already
virtually extinct implies that all necessary actions aimed at its
protection and conservation must be planned and implemented
with the greatest caution, in order to avert the definitive
disappearance of the last fallow deer of insular Asia Minor

29. The common fallow deer is broadly known as a diurnal species
which, in undisturbed places, may be seen feeding at all hours of
the day (Chapman & Chapman, 1975; 1997)
On Rhodes, as a consequence of its millennia old persecution by
man, the animal has became nocturnal, usually grazing after the
sun set, when there appears to be a period of intense feeding
which continues up to about 0.2.00 a.m.

30. We try for the first time to evaluate an estimate of number of the
Rhodian fallow deer
For this reason, we conducted spotlight surveys to evaluate the
kilometric index (KAI: Kilometric Abundance Index) for the
Rhodian deer population (i. e. McCullough 1982)
This index could become a helpful tool to develop appropriate
management strategies
These preliminary data can establish baseline information to start
monitoring the population

31. Map of Rhodes showing the location of the transects
The study area (1,126.012 ha) is characterised by cultivated areas (winter cereals,
forage, row crops and fruit crops such as orchards, vineyards, olive and orange groves)
and woodlands (Masseti, De Marinis, Theodoridis & Papastergiou, 2014)

32. KAI (Kilometric Abundance Index) variation per month in
southern and north-central transects for Rhodian fallow deer
(Masseti et al., 2014)
Spotlight counts led to an average of 2.9 ± 0.92 and 1.1 ± 0.68 deer/km in the
southern and north-central transects respectively
The higher detectability was recorded in November

33. It will be also appropriate to study the interactions between this
species and the local agriculture

34. On Rhodes, farmers traditionally (see Chalahiris 2000)
– and even today –
come in to conflict with fallow deer due to damages upon their
cultivations, such as olives and melons
Farmers perceive that these damages are exclusively caused by
the feeding-activity of fallow deer
Consequently, it will be appropriate to study the interactions
between the local agriculture and this cervid

35. In this regard, however, one of the main problem we had to deal
with was the widespread occurrence on all the island of free-
ranging livestock, essentially represented by sheep and goats

36. As a consequence, we also start a study of resource partitioning
between the Rhodian deer and the free-ranging livestock
Thus, we conducted spotlight counts also on domestic sheep and
goats along the same transects as the deer surveys

37. KAI (Kilometric Abundance Index) variation per month in
north-central transects for fallow deer and livestock
(Masseti et al., 2014)

38. Goats and sheep were not observed along the southern transects,
while an average of 4.7 ± 2.6 animals/km were observed along
the north-central transects
Livestock was continuously moved from one pasture to another,
therefore KAI (Kilometric Abundance Index) values changed
between recording months

39. However, as it is possible to understand,
there is a rather low percentage of fallow deer
compared to that of sheep and goats:
1.1 ± 0.68 fallow deer x 4.7 ± 2.6 sheep/goats
(almost 1 deer x 5 sheep/goats)
This low relative abundance of deer recorded in the
north central part of Rhodes may be related to the high
relative abundance of livestock

40. Last but not least, it should be important to assess the impact of
poaching on deer population, which shows no signs of abating,
even today (see Theodoridis, 2002; Masseti et al., 2014)
In the island of Rhodes the methods still used for illegal
deer hunting are:
1. using slip-knots,
2. traps,
3. waiting in ambush,
4. close pursuit
and
5. using headlights

41. Many killings are also due to car accidents

42. Effectively, as far back as the late nineteen-eighties, Ioannidis & Bousbouras
(1988a, 1988b) had already noted that, alongside the various proposed
measures for the protection of the remaining populations of fallow deer, an
extensive campaign was also called for to inform the public, especially the
young, about the seriousness of the situation and the need for an effort to save
the Rhodian deer
In this regard, a feasibility study on the potential introduction of the Rhodian
fallow deer into other protected areas of insular and continental Greece (see
also Sfougaris, 2002, and Masseti, 2002) would be advisable, with a view to
continuing the study and intensifying the protection of this ungulate
As already observed also by Demetropoulos (1993), Masseti (1999, 2002), and
Sfougaris (2002), a properly managed natural reserve, or a series of protected
areas, at Profitis Elias, at Laerma, in the surroundings of Akromitis or
elsewhere in the forest areas of the island, would be ideal for sustaining a wild
population, provided that the area is strictly managed and policed to ensure
that the animals are not exterminated by poaching

43. In this respect it has to be said that the present situation, in which
all the fallow deer owned by the Municipality of Rhodes are kept
in the same enclosure in the upper section of the Rhodini gardens,
effectively means that they are dramatically exposed to the
eventual effects of epidemics and other
animal diseases which could affect a high proportion, if not all, of
the captive herd

44. It is more appropriate to regard this enclosure as only a
provisional arrangement for the captive Rhodian deer, while
aiming at the establishment of other breeding areas for the
ungulate in the next future

45. Until few years ago, it seemed that the Municipality was
currently seeking alternative sites for the deer
In fact, captive breeding in a suitable compound will help in
restocking the, hopefully, forthcoming protected areas

46. It would also be advisable to replace some of these animals in the
moat surrounding the old town of Rhodes, reviving a traditional
practice, documented at least from the early decades of the last
century (Booth & Bridge Booth, 1928; Wettstein, 1942; Masseti,
2002) which has only recently been abandoned

47. As was the case up to few years ago, the areas most suitable for
housing the fallow deer could continue to be those strechtes of
the moat located respectively beneath the Port d’Amboise and/or
the Pili Elefterias bastion, the Porta dei Cervi of traditional
memory, set up by the Italians

48. Until the end of the 1990s, the tourists would stop here to admire
the deer, bringing home with them this vivid and poetic image of
the ancient city, and spreading throughout the world the
significance of the fallow deer as a symbol of Rhodes

49. As in the case of other tourist locations in Europe,
in Richmond Park in London (where fallow deer have been
introduced as far back as 350 years ago) …

50. … the royal palace of Rio Frio, in the vicinity of Segovia (Spain)
…

51. … or in the island of Veli Brijuni in Croatia, to mention just a
few of the more famous examples …

52. …, the tourist could also be allowed to walk through the
archaeological park of the moat among the ancient ruins, the
ornamental plants and the fallow deer at pasture

53. Effectively when, in 1998, the old town of Rhodes was declared a “World
Heritage City”, along the other archaeological and artistic treasures featured
within its perimeter were two herds of fallow deer, of ancient and exclusive
genetic lineage, grazing within the medieval moat, more specifically below the
Port d’Amboise …

54. … and the tower of Pili Elefterias

55. thank you