Spotted Deer : Population Explosion
The introduction of chital, or spotted deer, to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the early 1900s for game hunting by the British has resulted in a population explosion that now poses a significant problem for authorities.
- But now the chital population exceeding the carrying capacity of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island.
- Spotted deer, also known as chital or axis deer, are a species of deer native to the Indian subcontinent.
- They are characterized by their reddish-brown coat with white spots, which gives them their name.
- Spotted deer are medium-sized herbivores, typically weighing between 50 to 100 kilograms.
- They inhabit a variety of forested habitats, including deciduous forests, grasslands, and scrublands.
- The chital, also known as the spotted deer or axis deer, is a graceful and elegant herbivore native to the grasslands and forests of India and Sri Lanka.
- They prefer open grasslands, savannas, and lightly forested areas.
- IUCN Red list: Least Concern
- WLPA 1972: Schedule II.
