Hard Ground Swamp Deer

Authorities of the Kanha National Park claimed that the population of the near-extinct Hard Ground Swamp Deer has been improving in the area.

• Swamp Deer:

Swamp deer is commonly known as ‘Barasingha’ meaning ‘twelve horned’. It is a deer species found in India and Nepal and previously in Bangladesh and Pakistan. They are different from other Indian deer as their antlers have more than 3 tines (prongs). Mature stags can have as many as 10 to 14 tines in their antlers. It is the state animal of Madhya Pradesh.

• Sub-species:

There are 3 sub-species of swamp deer in the Indian subcontinent. The Western Swamp Deer is found in Nepal, the Eastern Swamp Deer is found in Kaziranga and Dudhwa National Parks and the Southern Swamp Deer is found in central and northern parts of India. While the Southern Swamp Deer has hooves adapted for walking on hard ground, the other two sub-species are adapted for life in swampy areas.

• Conservation Efforts:

The Hard Ground Swamp Deer was close to extinction in the Kanha National Park. However, with the conservation efforts, the population currently numbers around 800. The deer is endemic to the Kanha National Park and Tiger Reserve on the Maikal Range of Satpura Hills. Measures like captive breeding and habitat improvement were used.