Sambar Deer

Rusa unicolor

The Sambar Deer (Rusa unicolor) is a large and striking member of the Cervidae family, widely distributed across Southern Asia, including India, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, and parts of China. These robust deer are known for their rugged, shaggy coats that vary in color, commonly ranging from dark brown to a more reddish hue, which offers excellent camouflage in their dense forest habitats.

Sambar Deer are characterized by their impressive size, with males, or stags, reaching up to 1.6 meters at the shoulder and weighing as much as 350 kilograms. Males are easily recognizable by their majestic, three-tined antlers which can grow up to a meter in length. In contrast, females are typically smaller and lack antlers.

Primarily nocturnal, Sambar Deer are elusive and tend to remain hidden during daylight hours, emerging at night to graze on foliage, fruits, and tender grasses. Their significant size and strength allow them to defend themselves effectively against predators, though they remain cautious and secretive.

Prominent in their ecosystems, Sambar Deer play a vital role in maintaining the balance of their habitat, influencing vegetation composition and serving as prey for apex predators like tigers and leopards. Despite their adaptability, these deer face threats from habitat loss and hunting, leading to a vital need for conservation efforts to ensure their continued survival in the wild.