Sambar Deer

Sambar Deer Latest News

The Wildlife Wing of the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department recently recorded the presence of sambar deer (Rusa unicolor) in high-altitude protected areas of Chamba district through camera traps for the first time.

About Sambar Deer

• It is a large deer native to the Indian Subcontinent, southern China and Southeast Asia.  
• Scientific Name: Rusa unicolor
• Several races of sambar are recognized, among them the large Indian sambar and the smaller Malayan sambar.

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Sambar Deer Habitat and Distribution

• They are native to India, Pakistan, Ceylon, Sri Lanka, Burma, the Philippines, southern China, Taiwan, Borneo, Malaysia, Sumatra, and Java. 
• Sambars inhabit both gently sloping and steep forested hillsides. 
• They reside preferably near cultivated areas, such as gardens and plantations, in order to acquire food, but are also found in thick forests, swamp forests, and open scrub.

Sambar Deer Features

• A large, relatively long-tailed deer, it stands 1.2–1.4 m (47–55 inches) at the shoulder. 
• It is the largest oriental deer, with some adult males reaching 550 kg in weight.
• Its body is covered with a hairy coat that is colored yellowish brown to dark gray. 
• Its underside is usually dark or chestnut in color.
• Its hairs are generally long and more so around the neck particularly in males. 
• It has a long black tail. The underside of this tail is usually white in color. 
• Males have antlers and tend to be heavier and darker. Their antlers can grow up to 42 inches long and have 3 or 4 tines (points) and are shed periodically. 

Sambar Deer Conservation Status

It is classified as ‘Vulnerable‘ under the IUSN Red List

Source: TI