Germany's Animal of the Year 2026

Every year, the German Wildlife Foundation initiates the vote for Germany's Animal of the Year – for 2026, the choice fell on the red deer.

"With the appointment of the Red deer Animal of the Year 2026 We would like to draw attention to a way that in Germany, indeed numerous occurs and even causes conflicts with agriculture and forestry, at the same time but facing major challenges stands," says Dr. Andreas Kinser, Head of Nature and Species Conservation in the German Wildlife Foundation, according to which approximately 220.000 red deer – the species name includes both male and female animals – living in this country.

The red deer at a glance

Does, calves and young animals live in packs Outside of the rutting season (the mating season for wild animals), deer form herds, according to the German Wildlife Foundation. They feel most comfortable... in the semi-open landscape, i.e., on meadows and fields with individual groups of trees and shrubs.

The red deer and its competitors in snapshots

Human-wildlife conflict 

The animals are found in their habitats increasingly harassed and hunted by humanswhich is why they usually retreat to the forest. There they feed. up to 20 kilograms of plants daily and thus reshape their involuntarily colonized habitat. This could Conflicts with forestry to cause, has on the other hand but also positive effects – because in this way red deer create small clearings where herbs and grasses can grow and butterflies, wild bees and wood ants can find ideal living conditions.

In addition, it offers this Antlers that fall off each year and then grow anew. many male red deer, squirrels and other rodents mineralsFurthermore, red deer Seeds of various plants spread over many kilometers They carry the spores in their fur or excrete them in their feces, thus spreading them. These migrations also contribute to the genetic exchange between individual red deer populations.

However, these populations often end up at Highways, railway tracks, channels or because officially prescribed limits the species distribution. "In Baden-Württemberg, for example, red deer are only allowed to inhabit 4 percent of the state's area. On the remaining 96 percent of this state, hunters are legally obligated to kill every red deer, with very few exceptions. Due to the Fragmentation of red deer populations The species is losing more and more genetic diversity. Population geneticists are already speaking of... Beginning of an extinction process", the foundation announced. 

Help for the red deer

"To help the red deer, its Habitats better interconnected will. We will achieve this, among other things, by increasing Green bridges be built over highways and Migrating animals are generally not hunted. “They will be allowed to,” Kinser said. “Only if we can allow the red deer to return to the wild.” Give more space, can we succeed in preserving this fascinating animal species in Germany in the long term."

Further information about the red deer can be found on the Website of the German Wildlife Foundation and rothirsch.org.

Video from the German Wildlife Foundation: The Red Deer

I agree to display all external content and to change my cookie settings to 'Allow all cookies'. Learn more in our Privacy policy.Change cookie settingsAbout the voteWhether due to his Danger, the Threat to its habitat or a Human-wildlife conflictSince 2017, donors to the German Wildlife Foundation have been choosing a Animal of the Year, which should be brought to public attention. This year, for the first time, nature enthusiasts were also able to cast their votes in an online election. Source: German Wildlife FoundationDHB now also digital!Simply click here and register for the digital German Crafts Journal (DHB)!