Why in the News?

Manas National Park & Tiger Reserve recently shared some good news: The number of swamp deer in the park has increased.

About Swamp deer:

• Swamp deer, also known as barasingha (scientifically called Rucervus duvaucelii), is a type of deer found in the Indian subcontinent.
• They belong to the Cervidae family and are typically spotted in open forests and grasslands across India and Nepal.
• These deer primarily feed on wetland plants and the herbs commonly found in their natural habitat.
• Unfortunately, their population is now limited to isolated areas in Nepal, Assam, and the northern regions of India.
• Swamp deer used to exist in Bangladesh and Pakistan, but they are now extinct in both of these countries.

In the Indian Subcontinent, there are three subspecies of swamp deer:

• Western swamp deer (Rucervus duvaucelii) found in Nepal.
• Southern swamp deer (Rucervus duvaucelii branderi) found in central and north India.
• Eastern swamp deer (Rucervus duvaucelii ranjitsinhi) found in the Kaziranga and Dudhwa National Parks.

In terms of conservation, swamp deer are classified as follows:

• IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
• CITES: Appendix I
• The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I