Sambar deer

About Sambar deer:

• The Sambar (Rusa unicolour) is a large deer native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.
• They are quite elusive and are most active at dusk and at night.
• They are found in a broad range of forest habitats like dry deciduous forests, rainforests and mixed forests.
• These deer play an important role in the ecosystem they live in by dispersing seeds throughout their native range.
• Distribution: Their range is distributed from the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains across southern Asia and reaching the islands of Taiwan, Sumatra and Borneo.
• Threats
  • Hunting and habitat encroachment are the main threats.
  • Sambar has developed more of a nocturnal activity pattern as a response to hunting by humans, who hunt them for trade and for food.
• Conservation status
  • IUCN: Vulnerable
  • The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule-III

Key facts about Cauvery wildlife sanctuary:

• It is extended over three districts, namely, Chamarajanagar, Mandya and Ramanagara in Karnataka.
• The sanctuary provides a vital link between Bannerghatta National Park in the north and BRT Tiger Reserve and Male Mahadev Hills Wildlife Sanctuary in the south.
• The area is drained by three rivers, namely, Cauvery, Arkavathi and Shimsha.
• Flora: The forest is primarily of dry deciduous and scrub types, but a wide range of forest types, including moist deciduous, semi-evergreen, evergreen, shola, riverine, Hardwicke forest, etc.
• Fauna: Important animals found in the sanctuary are tigers, elephants, leopards, bison, wild dogs etc.