Rutting reindeer stags have to be SAWN apart after their antlers get locked together in an epic battle over females
- The stags lock antlers during the rutting season near Nadym in northern Russia
- Antlers become entwined causing them to be trapped on the ground for hours
- An animal rescue officer uses a saw to detach the stags from each other
- In rutting season stags lock antlers to asserting dominance and attract females
Two macho stags have to be sawn apart after locking antlers in a furious battle to win the attention of females.
A local animal rescue officer had to use a saw to separate the two exhausted male reindeer that had collapsed in the tundra near Nadym in the Yamalo-Nenets region of northern Russia.
They were entwined on the ground for two hours after their bruising battle.
An animal rescue officer saves the day by sawing the reindeer free after locking horns during the rutting season in the tundra near Nadym in the Yamalo-Nenets region of northern Russia. The stags roll around after being trapped for two hours on the ground
Once released, the gladiators could hardly walk and repeatedly fell over in amusing footage.
Their epic fight was one of the first of the new mating season in this sub-Arctic region, according to reports.
During the rutting season males challenge each other for access to females by locking antlers and trying to push each other away.
After lying motionless, the stags can hardly walk and collapse onto the ground (left). The stags are seen stumbling and rolling on the ground after locking antlers in their battle to impress females (right)
Two male reindeer, also known as the caribou in North America, locking antlers in the Denali National Park, Alaska
The rut starts at the end of September and lasts until November.
By locking antlers the reindeer awaken female hormones and ward off other opponents.
The strongest male collects as many as 20 females, reported The Siberian Times.
One of the reindeer is seen with its legs in the air as it struggles to balance after lying down for two hours (left). The other reindeer lies on its side and appears to be enjoying a break away from his foe (right)