What is the News ?

Researchers recently spotted a rare sambar deer with leucism (partial white coloring) in the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary.

Facts About:

• Sambar deer, scientifically known as Rusa unicolor, are large deer native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.
• They prefer to stay hidden and are most active during the evening and night.
• These deer can be found in a wide range of forest environments, including dry deciduous forests, rainforests, and mixed forests.
• One of their crucial roles in the ecosystem is seed dispersal within their natural habitats.

Distribution:

• They inhabit areas stretching from the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains across southern Asia, extending to the islands of Taiwan, Sumatra, and Borneo.

Threats they face:

• The main threats to Sambar deer are hunting and the encroachment of their natural habitat.
• In response to human hunting, they have adapted by becoming more active at night to avoid being hunted for trade and food.

Conservation status:

• According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), they are classified as 'Vulnerable.'

Under the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972, they are listed in Schedule-III for protection.