Unicorn Deer Killed By A Hunter in Slovenia (PHOTO)
Two antlers grew together into a single, unicorn-like protrusion, that was what researcher Boštjan Pokorny told National Geographic about the unicorn deer killed by a hunter in Slovenia in August.
Pokorny, who is the assistant director of the ecological research institute ERICo Velenje, verified the animal’s authenticity and said he’s never seen anything like it in nature. “In this species, only males grow antlers, which are bilateral and usually symmetrical bone structures that appear from two antler pedicles, i.e. extensions of the skull,” he said.
“However, in the case of this very untypical and interesting buck, both pedicles, which should be separated, grew up together in one large pedicle.”
Credit: National Geographic
Pokorny said he doesn’t believe the deer’s defect affected its ability to thrive. For one, it had already reached an old age, and the animal’s weight was above average when it was killed.
He also noted that roe deer are territorial, and mating success is based mostly on a male’s age and body size.
So unlike other deer species, the bizarre animal wouldn’t have needed his antlers to square off against other males.
Even so, we’re pretty sure that any rival would have been scared off by the sight of a unicorn.
National Geographic Slovenia will publish a story about the unicorn in its December issue.