Details
Rusa unicolor
Sambar is a large Asian forest deer known for deep alarm calls and frequent use of wet areas. Hunting pressure and forest fragmentation have reduced populations in many regions.
Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)
It uses forests, grassland openings, stream edges, and wet lowlands from South to Southeast Asia. Main habitat types in this guide are forest, grassland, freshwater.
Typical length 160-270 cm, weight 100 kg-350 kg. A heavy body, dark brown coat, neck mane, and stout three-tined antlers in males are conspicuous.
It is most active around dawn and dusk and usually solitary. It uses water and wallows often and gives loud alarm calls when disturbed.
It is herbivorous. Grasses, leaves, shoots, aquatic plants, and fruit are eaten.
Females bear single fawns that are hidden in dense vegetation at first.
Habitat loss and human pressure make conservation attention important. Hunting pressure and forest fragmentation have reduced populations in many regions.
