Eastern Swamp Deer pre-fawning to be conducted at Kaziranga
Guwahati: The Assam Government has decided to exercise a two-day pre-fawning estimation of Eastern Swamp Deer in Assam’s Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve.
According to reports, it will be held on 10th and 11th January 2022.
Meanwhile, Elephant safari for visitors has been suspended on 11th January due to the smooth conduct of Eastern Swamp Deer.
The order was issued on Thursday via a general notice issued by the divisional forest officer, Eastern Assam Wildlife, Division, Bokakhat.
It may be noted that the Eastern Swamp Deer is a sub-species of Swamp Deer is currently inhabited only in Assam. The species is listed in schedule-I of the ‘Indian Wildlife Protection Act (1972). The swamp deer differs from all the Indian deer species in that the antlers carry more than three times. Because of this distinctive character it is designated Barasingha, meaning “twelve-tined.” Rapid seizure of grasslands for agricultural usage, frequent floods and excessive hunting has resulted in heavy decline in their population, bringing the sub-species on the verge of extinction and today the major population is confined to Kaziranga National Park, Assam. At the turn of the century the population of Eastern Swamp Deer were estimated to be around 500 at Kaziranga National Park (Assam).