Narnia in Dorset: Incredible images of rare white stag in Britain
THIS beautiful white stag is giving people a glimpse of Narnia on a Dorset nature reserve.
This beautiful white stag is giving people a glimpse of Narnia on a Dorset nature reserve
Latest visitor to see the snow-like magical creature was Sharon Hurst who was walking her dog on the wildlife reserve at Arne, near Wareham.
She said: "We go to Arne at Wareham every Sunday and have a lovely walk with our dog."
"You always see the sika deer there but this week I was pleased to see this pure white deer.
"He was not scared or nervous with everything going on around him.
"I felt very lucky to get so close and be able to take a photo - it was magical."
I felt very lucky to get so close and be able to take a photo - it was magical
Another visitor to see it, Ed Holbrook, said "Despite spotting me about 20 metres away, the deer seemed quite content."
White stags are not albinos but suffer from leucism, a condition that causes hair and skin to lose its natural colour.
They have played a part in Britain's myths and legends for thousands of years.
To the ancient Celts, the white hart was symbol of the otherworld, a sign that a taboo had been transgressed.
White stags are not albinos but suffer from leucism
Deer fights back against a hunter
Seeing a white hart meant some terrible evil or judgment was about to occur.
In Arthurian legend, the white stag was a sign it was time to embark on a quest.
The hart was considered the one animal that could never be caught.
To the ancient Celts, the white hart was symbol of the otherworld
And one version of the legend of Herne the Hunter says that Herne was mortally wounded while saving King Richard II from an angry white stag.
In a bid to save his life, the stags antlers were cut off and bound to Herne's head.
Later, after Herne's death - he hung himself from an oak tree - his spirit reappeared, complete with antlers.
In Hungary, a white hart is believed to have led the country's first residents to their homeland, while in France one story says anyone who killed a white hart was cursed with the pain of unrequited love.
In modern culture, the white stag features in both the Chronicles of Narnia and Harry Potter.