The Caspian red deer (Cervus elaphus maral), is one of the easternmost subspecies of red deer that is native to areas between the Black Sea and Caspian Sea such as Crimea, Asia Minor, the Caucasus Mountains region bordering Europe and Asia, and along the Caspian Sea region in Iran.

The Caspian red deer is around 4 feet 6 inches (1.37 m) tall, and can weigh 500 to 700 pounds (230 to 320 kg).

[6] Historically, demand for velvet antlers from Asia was met by organized deer farms in the Soviet Union.

The approximate number of Caspian red deer in eastern Georgia dropped from 2,500 in 1985 to 880 in 1994.

[8] Their primary predators include Persian leopards and, to a lesser extent, wolves and brown bears.