The Caucasian Red Deer – Restoring a Missing Keystone

The Caucasian Red Deer (Cervus elaphus maral) was once widespread across Georgia’s forests. As the country’s only true forest megaherbivore, it shaped vegetation, supported predators, and symbolized wilderness and beauty.

During the 20th century, political instability, poaching, and weak law enforcement led to a dramatic population collapse. Today, only two core populations remain—Lagodekhi–Zakatala and Borjomi–Kharagauli—along with a few smaller groups. Habitat fragmentation prevents natural recolonization, leaving large forest areas ecologically incomplete.

Restoring red deer is essential to rebuilding healthy, balanced forest ecosystems.

Why Rewild Tbilisi National Park?

Red deer historically inhabited the Saguramo area (now part of Tbilisi National Park) until the late 1980s. Although the park was later expanded to nearly 21,000 ha, the species never returned.

Because of isolation from other populations, natural recolonization is highly unlikely. Reintroducing red deer will:

• Restore ecological integrity to the park

• Strengthen Georgia’s national deer metapopulation

• Support future natural expansion into surrounding habitats

• Reconnect people with a powerful symbol of Georgia’s natural heritage

Extensive ecological, socio-economic, and veterinary studies now confirm that reintroduction is feasible.

Part of a National Rewilding Strategy

The Tbilisi initiative complements the ongoing reintroduction program in Algeti National Park.

• Algeti: captive-bred deer released gradually

• Tbilisi: wild-caught individuals translocated from viable populations

Together, these approaches improve genetic diversity and long-term resilience. The project also builds national expertise for restoring other missing species, such as the Bezoar goat.

Tbilisi National Park has the potential to become a model site for science-based rewilding in Georgia.

Long-Term Vision

The goal is to establish a viable, self-sustaining red deer population in Tbilisi National Park that can eventually disperse and reconnect with other Georgian populations.

Through strong science, adaptive management, and stakeholder cooperation, this initiative demonstrates how conservation can restore ecosystems—and reconnect society with its natural and cultural heritage.

Facts

 Project : Feasibility Study for Rewilding the Tbilisi National Park Ecosystem

Funded by: BP International Limited (BPIL), part of the "BP Group".