DEER FAMILY OF INDIA

DEER FAMILY OF INDIA

Deer are the most ancient of all the ruminants ( cud chewing animals) and are mostly found in the forests or in the open grasslands. Even though they are part of Bovidae still there are many distinctions which separate them from this class. Nearly all the deer species have large fissure below each eye and the gall bladder is absent in nearly all the deer’s.

Unlike other ruminants (cud chewing animals) deer have solid horns and that is its most distinguishing factor. Deer antlers are mass of solid bone and are shed on regular intervals and regrow again. Whereas in all other bovidae’s the horns are permanent and are not shed.

India has a distinction of having the largest number of deer species in the world. The species found in India varies in size as per the areas they live in.

The horn or the antler is the most important and fascinating part of a deer. The process starts gradually and with each shedding it grows more and finally takes its shape. During the growing of the antlers a soft shining skin covers the antlers and is known as “velvet”. This skin is highly sensitive as it is fed by many blood vessels and can be injured easily.

When the antlers grow to take their final shape a ring of bone forms on the base and cuts off the supply of blood to the velvet thus leading to its shedding. During this period many deer can be seen rubbing their antlers on the tree trunk to get rid of the velvet.

Shedding of velvet is usually followed by the period of rutting and many stags are seen sparing with each other to get hold of hinds. These fights are mostly jostling with each other antlers interlocked and are rarely fatal. The shedding of antlers is mainly after the finish of the rutting season. One factor playing important role in the shedding of horns is the availability of good grass.

For males good intake of food means good source of calcium which helps in the formation of bone (antlers) whereas for female this period acts as a good source of nutrients to nurse the young ones.

The surroundings play very important role in the body development of deer species. Deer species of central India are known for their large size and big antlers. Whereas the species found in Eastern and Southern India have antlers smaller in size.

The difference in habitat of swamp deer has led to the development of two sub species, hard ground and soft ground barasingha. The swamp deer and the sambar have large funnel shaped ears to catch maximum sound as both inhabit denser parts of the forests. Whereas the chital has short ears as it inhabits the fringes of the forest and open grasslands where catching sound is much easier.

Deer have profound effect on their surroundings and every type of deer plays a very important role for Nature. They keep a control on the growth of grass and other tree types which are favored by them.