GIANT FALLOW DEER
Hello all of you fine people out there! May you all have had a gracious and blessed week! I certainly pray so always! For many of us who live in the United States of America, I would like to wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving too. For those who may be unfamiliar with this day of celebration it usually occurs the last Thursday of November (except this year for somereason). It is a day of remembrance when the first colony of white people, Europeans, came to North America. With winter coming and not much time to prepare us Americans who have these forefathers as their ancestors where in dire need. That is when the Native people stepped in to help these helpless people. Out of the kindness of their hearts they brought much food, including turkeys, gourds, maze (corn), potatoes, venison (deer meat), pumpkins, sunflower seeds and much, much more. Not only did the pilgrims eat hearty that day but they had extra to help them through the winter. Thank you to that half of my ancestry, the Native Americans, that were so generous to the other half of my ancestors, the eternal grateful pilgrims! And the tradition continues in having a National day of Thanksgiving.
So one of the most delicious meats my ancestors, and people of today still eat is venison. A large deer can feed a family for months! But much longer ago than the pilgrims another type of deer lived in Europe and Asia. A much, much larger deer called the Giant Fallow Deer, also known as the Giant Irish elk, Megaloceros giganteus. The antler spread of a large male was an enormous 11.5 feet, (3.51m) across and weighing up to 90 lbs (41 kg)! From fossil skeletal remains the average height of the giant deer was 6 feet (1.8 m) at the shoulder and would have weighed about 1100 lbs (500 kg). Now that’s a lot of meat! And a lot of beauty.
The closest extant (living) relative to this animal is the fallow deer, Dama dama. Fallow deer are fairly small animals with the average height at the shoulder being 3.3 feet (1.0 m) tall and weighing up to 176 lbs (80 kg). Much smaller than even the mule deer found here in the Americas.
“This deer is yet another monumental monster, a variety of Giant fallow deer that has recently vanished. The evidence suggests post-Flood changes in climate may have affected their ecosystems, wreaking havoc on their food supply, and causing an end to Megaloceros giganteus.”
Some Christians I speak to about these giant animals react with skepticism. We should never be afraid of the truth. God’s world of creations always matches up with His Word in scripture. If anything sounds doubtful or far fetched or unbelievable, research the scriptures. Study the Bible. Find out where the two come together. And don’t be afraid that they won’t. “The Truth shall set us free!” And remember…”There were giants in those days.”
Until next time, take care and God bless and HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Nelson, Vance, Untold Secrets of Planet Earth, Monumental Monsters, Untold Secrets of Planet Earth Publishing Company, Inc. 2017. Pp 98-101.