BARKING DEER

                       STATUS

IUCN                    :  LRlc

CAMP                   :  LRlc

Schedule             :  III

Activity                :  Diurnal

Social Group      :  Single or in pairs

👉Local name   :  Bhenkadu, Bhekhar, Jakar

👉Physical measurements & life cycle : 👇

Weight                :  18 - 25 kg

Height                 :  50 - 70 cm

Antler size         :  10 - 13 cm

Gestation            :  6 months

Litter size           :  2

Life span             :  15 - 20 years

Breeding             :  It breeds round the year. However, winter is the peak breeding season. 

👉Description   :  It is an animal of deer family that is dark red or reddish brown in colour. Males have small bifurcated antlers.

👉Food  :  Herbivorous. It feeds on leaves, grass and fruits. 

👉Distribution  :  It is recorded in Shoolpaneswar sanctuary and in the forests of Panchmahals, Dangs and Vyara. 

👉Habitat   :   Dense forests.

👉Behaviour  :   Diurnal. Its call resembles barking of a dog and hence the name. It is a very shy animal that is usually seen singly or in pairs. It gives out barks that resemble barking of dogs. On suspecting a danger, it runs away fearfully b arking continuously. 

👉Signs of presence  :  Shed out antlers etc.

👉The barking deer prefers thickly wooded hills. Like other smaller deer and unlike larger species of deer, this species is far less gregarious. It is also known as Muntjac that occurs in countries like China and Japan apart from India. If it occurs in a small family group, the stag assumes the leadership role and the female and her fawn/yearling follow the stag.