Sambar Deer male (Cervus unicolor) Ranthambore National Park. Rajasthan. INDIA.
HABITAT & RANGE: Forests including hills, riverine forest and grasslands of India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
Large deer that are both diurnal and nocturnal. Normally shy. Normally seen in herds of 4 - 20 animals. Their alarm call is a loud explosive 'dhank' usually given on sighting a tiger or leopard which are their main enemies. They are partial to water and will bath and feed in lakes, rivers and marshes. They feed on grasses, leaves, flowers and fruit.
STATUS: Abundant.
Ranthambhore National Park was established as a sanctuary in 1955 as a tiger reserve in 1973 and a national park in 1981. The park is dominated by the ruins of the 1,000 year-old Ranthambhore Fort.