Once widespread throughout the Middle East, the Persian Fallow Deer has been on the brink of extinction several times over the last hundred years, due to intense hunting. In 2015, the total wild population contained only 250 adults, most of which were in Israel.
By the 1940s it was thought that they were extinct, until, in the 1950s a small herd was discovered in Iran. In an epic effort to restore Israel's wildlife to that of biblical times, Israeli General Avraham Yoffe negotiated the transport of several adult deer to Israel.
Persian Fallow Deer, which are mentioned in the Hebrew Bible and were abundant in ancient Israel, now exist in several nature reserves around the country, including the Carmel Hai Bar Reserve in the north, and the Biblical Lanscape Reserve, Neot Kedumim, near Jerusalem.
'Persian Fallow Deer, Neot Kedumim' was created using archival, lightfast acrylic ink, and 24 karat gold leaf, on museum quality, cradled wooden panel.
