SAMBAR DEER

SHARON A.J2009-03-10

The sambar (Rusa unicolor) is a large deer native to the Indian Subcontinent,

Sambar have a small but dense mane, which tends to be more prominent in males

The tail is relatively long for deer, and is generally black above with a whitish underside

Sambar have lived for up to 28 years in captivity, although it is unlikely that they often survive more than twelve years in the wild

Young male grows antlers at age 2

TAXONOMY

Kingdom : AnimaliaPhylum : ChordataClass : MammaliaOrder : ArtiodactylaFamily : CervidaeSubfamily: CervinaeGenus : CervusSpecies : UnicolorScientific name : Rusa unicolor (Kerr, 1792) New : Cervus unicolor

DISTRIBUTION

India, Sri Lanka, Nepal , South east Asia Africa Introduced to Australia, New Zealand , USA

HABITAT

Open jungles and Grasslands Prefer forested hill-sides near

cultivation Adapt itself to wide variety of

environmental condition In India mainly temperate

forests Prefer water source nearby

FOREST TYPES

Sambar are found in habitats ranging from tropical seasonal forests (tropical dry forests and seasonal moist evergreen forests),

subtropical mixed forests (conifers, broadleaf deciduous, and broadleaf evergreen tree species) to tropical rainforests

FACTS

Coat color : brown with chestnut marks Shoulder height : 130-170 cms Weight : 225-320 kg Life span : 20-25 years(captivity) Age at maturity-male : 4 yrs -female : 2-3 yrs Gestation period : 240 days Litter size : 1 Breeding season : Nov-Dec

Delicious food to Tiger , Asiatic lion

IUCN red data list : Vulnerable The major threats are Habitat

encroachment and Hunting Body temp : 102 F Pulse : 60-80/minute Respiratory rate : 12-20/minute

BEHAVIOR Nocturnal or crepuscular Form small herd of up to 6 individuals Amazing sense of hearing and smell When alarmed all adults screams a

high pitched sound- “pooking” or “belling”

Common communication- Scent making, Foot stamping

Marking by antlers and spraying urine directly in his own face with a highly mobile penis

REPRODUCTION Male becomes solitary ,aggressive and

establishes a territory Polygynous in nature Females moving around breeding

territories seeking male to court Courtship based on tending bonds Gestation probably lasts around eight

months Fawn stays with the mother 1 year

SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR Sambar mate and reproduce year-

round, sambar calving peaks seasonally.  Estrus lasts around eighteen days. The male establishes a territory from

which he attracts nearby females, but he does not establish a harem.

The male stomps the ground, creating a bare patch, and often wallows in the mud, perhaps to accentuate the colour of his hair

 Large dominant stags will defend non-exclusive territories surrounded by several smaller males

STAG SAMBAR DEER

When sparring with rival males, sambar lock antlers and push, like other deer, but, uniquely, they also sometimes stand on their hind legs and clash downward into each other

Courtship is based more on tending bonds rather than males vocally advertising themselves.

 Females moving widely among breeding territories seeking males to court.

 When mounting, males do not clasp females. The front legs of the male hang loosely and intromission takes the form of a "copulatory jump".

The young begin to take solid food at 5 to 14 days, and begin to ruminate after one month.

MALE SAMBAR DEER FIGHTING

COURTING

FOOD HABITS

Feeding habit depends on season, habitat and location

Browse leaves,grasses,herbs Fruits and bamboo buds

DISEASES

Rabies,FMD,HS Tuberculosis,Anthrax,Tetanus,CBPP Salmonellosis,colibacillosis,leptospirosis Dermatophytosis,candidiasis Trypanosomiasis,Sarcocystitis,filariasis Major causes of death-Traumatic

injury, respiratory infection, GIT infection, dystocia

MANAGEMENT IN ZOO

Feeding - Grass,cattle feed,concentrate,bengal gram,green gram,cotton seed,MM,Salt

Deworming- Fenbendazole 5-7.5mg/kg Levamisole 8-10 mg/kg oxyclozanide 10-15 mg/kg

VACCINATION

Vaccination -FMD -HS+BQ 4ml SC To minimize birth in capacity chemical

contraceptive Melongestrol acetate (feed additive) and porcine zona pellucida vaccine are succesfully applied

RESTRAINING

PHYSICAL – squeeze guage ,trap ,crate

CHEMICAL – succinylcholine chloride 0.07-0.14 mg/kg - Xylazine &ketamine combination @

0.75,1 mg/kg respectively -Xylazine 0.7 ml & Etorphine 0.8 ml

(250kg)

THANK YOU