SAMBAR

                      STATUS

IUCN                   :  LRIC 

CAMP                  :  LRIC 

CITES                  :  Appendices 

Schedule            :  III

Population         :  Over 3,800

Activity                :  Crepuscular to Nocturnal 

Social Group      :  Small Group

👉Local name   :   Sambar, Sabar

👉Physical measurements & life cycle : 👇

Length                   :  150 - 200 cm

Weight                   :  225 - 320 kg

Height                    :  135 cm

Antlers                   :  105 cm

Maturity                :  Not Known

Gestation               :  6 months

Litter size              :  1

Life span                :  20 years

Breeding                :  November - December

👉Description  :  This is the largest deer in India that has long and round ears. Male sambar can be identified by its dark brown body and long branched antlers. Female lacks antlers. Male has mane around neck and throat. 

👉Food  :  Herbivorous (grazer and browser). Feeds on grass, leaves, wild fruits etc. 

👉Distribution   :   At present this deer occurs in Gir, Mitiyala and Girnar only. In the past, sambar was distributed in parts of South Gujarat, Saurashtra, and North Gujarat. 

👉Habitat   :  Rocky and hilly area of dense and open deciduous forests. 

👉Behaviour  :  Crepuscular to nocturnal. It rests between morning and evening m forest. It grazes from evening to early morning. Prefers wallowing In pool. Makes loud "Bhoonk"/ "Dhank" call when frightened. Usuany found in small groups in our area. 

👉Signs of presence  :   Shed antlers, hair in wallowing area and droppings.

👉Population  : Year 1990    1995    2001    2005 

                              Nos.  1,764   2,262   2,550  3,670 - 3,870

                                        (In Gir / Girnar) 

👉Sambar is the largest deer in India. Sambar is the forest-loving deer. Forested hill-sides, preferably near cultivation are the favourite haunt of the sambar. Sambar has acute sense of smell and hearing, though that of sight is moderate. The adult stag is grand looking animal that cast their antlers between March and mid-April. Sambar is one of the poachers' favoured animals on account of the amount of meat it carries-a stag may weigh up to 320 kg. The sharp, short "dhank"-"dhank" call of the sambar is a thrilling jungle sound as it suggests the proximity of a tiger or a leopard. As per an anecdote the name of the river Sabarmati in N. Gujarat has originated due to sambars inhabiting shore areas of this river.