"The Roar" by Kaleb White

Roaring is an intense behaviour exhibited by red deer during the annual breeding season on New Zealand’s North Island. I was commissioned to record the essence of stag (male deer) behaviour during the peak of the rut, or ‘the roar’ as it is known. Stags are most vocal and produce a very distinct roaring sound when attracting hinds (female deer). Stags establish dominance during the roar not only by vocalising their superiority but also by displaying a variety of mature postures and fighting other stags to win the right to mate with hinds. Being able to safely document large, antlered, aggressive wild stags has taken years of practice and patience. Witnessing intense, raw moments for a brief time ultimately provides a better understanding of red deer behaviour; it captures the essence of The Roar.