INDIAN MUNTJAC OR BARKING DEER DIKHALA ZONE, CORBETT NATIONAL PARK 10122014 Everyone going on a wildlife safari wants to see only Tigers and a Safari without sighting a Tiger is looked on as a failed one. One cannot be driving around in the forest looking for a Tiger. Naturalists and regular wildlife visitors look for marks of presence of a predator in the vicinity. Fresh Pug mark is one of them. However every naturalist will tell you to park safari vehicle in a likely spot and wait and listen to alert calls. The barking of a Barking deer is one of them. A constant “call” of the Barking deer is an almost certain sign of a predator in the vicinity. A call of monkeys is a certain sign. The barking mechanism is used more frequently when visibility is reduced and can last for over an hour regarding one incident. The Indian muntjac (Muntiacus muntjak), also called the red muntjac, common muntjac or barking deer, is the most numerous muntjac deer species. It has soft, short, brownish or greyish hair, sometimes with creamy markings. This species is omnivorous, feeding on grass,fruits, shoots, seeds, birds eggs as well as small animals. It sometimes displays even scavenging behavior, feeding on carrion. It gives calls similar to barking, usually upon sensing a predator (hence the common name for all muntjacs of barking deer). The male Indian muntjac has small, unbranched antlers which grow to about 15 centimeters (5.9 in) in length. Males are extremely territorial and—despite their diminutive size—can be quite fierce.
Posted on: Tue, 23 Dec 2014 14:51:22 +0000