Swamp Deer

Barasingha is commonly known as Swamp deer. It is largely found in northern and central India.

The zoological name of swamp deer is Rucervus duvaucelli which falls under the genus Rucervus. At present, one can find them only in the protected sanctuaries of India.

The swamp deer of India derives its name 'Barasingha' from its large antlers. The classification of swamp deer is as below,

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Mammalia
Order	Artiodactyla
Family	Cervidae
Genus	Rucervus
Species	Rucervus duvaucelli

Physical Structure

Barasingha is a medium sized deer, which grows to utmost a height of 130 cm and weighs around 180 - 185 kg. Male barasinghas are slightly larger than female, males possess a dense brown coat over their body in order to make them warm and dry in swampy habitat. The skin coloration happens during their mating season. Its thick brown fur helps the deer remain warm and dry when they reside in a moist habitat. A male deer possesses huge antlers, which can grow up to a length of 75 cm.


The antlers are also varying from regions. In Northern India, the Barasingha have antlers which has a shiner and lighter appearance. Its average life span ranges between 20-30 years . During the summer the coat of barasingha lightens and develops light spots on the back and lateral sides. They have slim tail with whitish complexion.

Barasingha are sometimes diurnal and occurs nocturnal at other time.

They can be seen nibbling both at the daytime and at the night hours. They usually graze in groups, commonly addressed as herds, consisting of 10 to 20 members. The size of the herd keeps changing depending upon the time of the year. During the breeding or mating season the number of members in a herd raises to count as high as sixty. The male Barasinghas fight amongst each other in order to establish dominance over a herd of female deer.

Distribution and Habitat

They prefer to live in dry and wet swampy grasslands. For clear reasons their main diet is grass. They obtain them from vast grassland of northern and central India. One can spot swamp deer in regions with tall grasses or in the reed beds near rivers. They love to stay in marshes or in swamplands. In the Indian subcontinent, Barasinghas can be found dwelling in the forested areas across Gangetic and Brahmaputra basins.

Places Found

Dudhwa National Park: Dudhwa national park is located in the India - Nepal border of Indian state of Uttar Pradesh and covers an area of 490 sq. km and house a number of wildlife ranges from swamp deer, chital, hog deer, sambar and rhinos. It is also a famous tiger reserve and a home of numerous tigers. Barasingha draws main attraction in the park and a protected place for other endangered species.

Kanha National Park: Kanha national park is located in Madhya Pradesh and a well-known place for tigers. But the park's major achievement is to save nearly extinct barasingha (swamps deers). It reached a landmark achievement by preserving the highly endangered barasingha. They made a record by increasing the population of Barasingha from 66 to 400. Elephant safari is conducted to view the wildlife of the park. During the month of April to June and November to January has most of the visitors rather than on other months.

Kaziranga National Park: Kaziranga national park is a one of the world heritage sites for its varied wildlife and located in Assam in north east India. This park is famous for conservation of one horned rhinos and has made its name in world conservation for rhinos. The park is also a dwelling place for many rare barasinghas. Apart from Barasinghas, we could also find wild buffaloes and wild boars in this park.

Manas national Park: Manas Park is situated in Assam with an area of 391 sq km,

it was earlier known as North Kamrup and has also gained the rank of a world heritage site. The place has some royal Bengal tiger as well. The place consists of a rare herd ground for swamp deers (Barasingha).

Food habits

Barasinghas are basically plant eating animals. Their diet mainly consists of grass and leaves. The wetland subspecies of Barasingha prefers eating aquatic plants. They can be spotted during their grazing time at early morning and evening.

Mating behaviour

The mating season of the swamp deer happens during the months of November and December. Their gestation period is for six months and they usually litter a single young one. Indian Barasingha gives birth to young ones among tall grasses, where it is possible for them to hide their baby from predators. They have a sharp sense of smell and it serves as their best defense against their predators.

During mating season male body coloration changes more of darker brown, and this coloration of male body indicates that mating season has arrived. Long drawn out mating calls also are an indication from male to mate. They have a long gestation period of 6 months.

Population and Statistics

The most threatened population is the Central Indian race with less than 500 surviving in Kanha National Park. The population goes on decreasing in many parts of India.

Threats to Barasingha

Swamp deer has been categorized under the list of endangered species of the world. Deforestation along with the draining of swamps and marshes for farming, has led to the destruction of their natural habitat. Barasinghas are being hunted for their horns.

Also they catch diseases from the domestic cattle, which lead to their death and a decline in their population.

The causes of the barasingha's decline and present threats include destruction or modification of its habitat for wetland reclamation, poaching, timber and grass cutting, illegal gathering of fuel wood and other resources in reserves, and tree plantations or cultivation, and shooting for crop protection. Diseases spread by the cattle may also become a factor to decline the population of swamp deer.

Conservation efforts

Government has taken this issue as a very serious one to preserve this endangered species. Many parks are opened to preserve this species. Government has taken many Conservation activities that have included dispersal of Tigers away from main grazing areas, control of poaching, creation of water reservoirs, cessation of grass burning and reduction in domestic cattle heads. Mainly these types of deers are killed for their valuable antlers. Illegal poaching is prohibited and severe punishments are given to the poachers.