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Cervus duvauceli
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Cervus duvauceli.
Common name: Swamp deer.
Common Hindi name: Barasingha.
The Barasingha or Swamp Deer, is an endangered species of deer, and can be seen in protected sanctuaries in India. They derive their name from the large antlers of the adult male Barasingha, which may grow to have more than 12 points, hence the translation of its name in Hindi, 12-antlered Deer.
The Barasingha was previously seen across most of North and central India in areas of moist forest and swampland. With the destructions of its habitat, the Barasingha is now seen in isolated protected forests in Uttar Pradesh, Assam and Madhya Pradesh.
The Barasingha is a medium sized deer. It can grow to a height of 130 cm and weigh up to 180 Kg. The Barasingha has a dense brown coat that keeps it warm and dry in its moist habitat. The coat of the male Barasingha becomes darker in color during the mating season. The antlers of an adult male Barasingha can grow up to 75cm long and can have more than 12 points.
The Barasingha prefers tall grass and reed beds near rivers. Marshes or swampland is a Barasingha's preferred territory. The Barasingha is found in forested areas in the Gangetic and Brahmaputra basins in India.
Barasingha are herbivores. They feed mainly on grass and leaves. The wetland subspecies of Barasingha also eats aquatic plants. They make several trips in a day to water holes or riverbanks to drink.
Barasingha are active and graze during both the day and the night. Barasingha are usually seen in herds that vary in size depending on the time of year. Herds usually consist of 10 - 20 members. During the breeding season they form larger breeding herds of 30 - 60 deer. Male Barasingha fight to establish control over a herd of female deer. During the rest of the year adult male Barasingha are often solitary.
The Barasingha is a vulnerable species. The destruction of their habitat due to deforestation, the draining of swamps and marshes for farming, poaching for its horns and diseases transmitted by domestic cattle, have all led to the decline of the Barasingha in India.
I was out for a couple of days. On the way back, I managed to steel away some time to spend a night and the following morning in the Dudhwa National Park. This shot was taken from a swinging elephant back, camera hand-held. Elephant is the only means to enter this swampy grass-land. |
gerbilratz, Argus, ocskaymarci has marked this note useful
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- Argus
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2596 W: 133 N: 7433]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(23169) - [2007-11-21 3:10]
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Hello Nirmal,
Lovely capture of a pair of Swamp Deer in their natural environment. I like the composition and the glimpse of water in the middle of the image. Nice sharpness and colours too.
Well done and TFS!
Ivan
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- lousat
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 993 W: 6 N: 2650]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif)
(9869) - [2007-11-21 3:43]
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i like your pics showing animals in ther natural habitat,very nice scene in this pic,have a nice day,Luciano
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- mrcrow
(2996)
- [2007-11-27 6:44]
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smothered in their surroundings but still observable..i like the massing of the grasses and the 'peep' at the two deer in a protected area
the water emphasises their favourite area to hunt and live.
cheers
geof
Hi Nirmal,
A beautiful pair, in the middle of the grass and with its fine senses, surely a not easy shot. I like the composition, despite the distance of the animals.
Regards
Hernán
Hello Nirmal,
Very nice photo! I love the composition, the POV and the colours.
TFS!
Best wishes,
Marci
![Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Silver Note Writer [C: 17 W: 12 N: 16]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/s-s-s.gif)
(100)
Nice to see them in their natural habitat...good composition and excellent information.
regards