The barking deer, also referred to as the muntjac, is a unique and fascinating creature found throughout Asia. In Nepal, the Indian muntjac is the most common species of barking deer. Though called a deer, the muntjac is part of the Moschidae family, separate from true deer.
About the size of a medium-sized dog, the barking deer gets its name from its distinct loud bark-like calls, particularly common during mating season. Its coat ranges in color from reddish brown to gray, sometimes with darker face markings. Curved tusks protrude from the upper jaw of males. These tusks are used for territorial battles. Another distinctive feature is the muntjac's elongated fang-like canine teeth.
The barking deer holds an important ecological role in Nepal's forests as a browser, feeding on leaves, grass, fruit, seeds, and flowers. As a key prey species, it also serves as a food source for predators like leopards, tigers, wild dogs, and pythons.
Native to the Terai region in southern Nepal, the barking deer's range extends into the Churia Hills and Mahabharat Range. It inhabits a variety of wooded habitats including sal, pine, and deciduous forests. The elusive muntjac is usually solitary or found in small family groups. It has adapted well to living near human settlements as its natural forest habitats decline.
Though not currently considered threatened, localized hunting and habitat loss pose concerns for Nepal's endemic barking deer populations. Continued conservation efforts will be vital in preserving balanced and biodiverse ecosystems across the country. The uniquely vocalizing muntjac remains an iconic forest-dweller of the Himalayan nation.
Description and Species Classification
Physical Characteristics
The barking deer has a short round head with large black eyes and oversized ears. Its torso is slender and long with relatively short legs equipped with four toes on each foot. The tail is fairly inconspicuous, no more than 8-10 cm long. Their reddish coat is rough and grizzled. A prominent feature is the slightly elongated, tusk-like upper canines in males which are lacking in females. Adults range from 36 to 52 cm tall at the shoulder and weigh 10 to 18 kg on average.
Taxonomy and Species Classification
The Indian muntjac inhabits the lowland forests of Nepal and belongs to the genus Muntiacus. Part of the Moschidae family, muntjacs are in a different family than cervids (deer). This contributes to more pronounced differences between male and female physical characteristics. There are 12 species of muntjacs identified so far across South and Southeast Asia. They are further divided into the Indian Muntjac group and Reeves's Muntjac group based on physical and genetic distinctions.
Gender Differences
Gender differences extend beyond only the upper canines in male Indian muntjacs. Males have short antlers covered in velvet, are slightly larger, and have longer tails. Males also utilize scent glands located between their hooves and eyes. Adult males have prominent forehead glands to supplement the scent from other glands. Females do not have visible forehead glands. These various glands produce signaling scents, especially during the mating season. The male deer’s coats also become glossier as the mating season approaches.
Habitat and Distribution
The Indian muntjac resides primarily in the lush lowland forests of the Terai, Churia Hills, and Mahabharat Range in Nepal. It prefers the dense vegetation and wooded areas provided by sal, pine, deciduous, and riverine forests. Grasslands adjacent to these wooded regions also serve as suitable habitat. The barking deer's highest observed elevation is around 1,600 meters in Nepal's protected spaces.
Geographically, barking deer populations have been documented across 20 districts, mainly in Western and Central Nepal. Notable protected areas for the species include the Chitwan National Park, Bardia National Park, and Shukla Phanta Wildlife Reserve.Â
Populations also occur in forested pockets near human settlements. Overall densities likely reach over 7 individuals per square kilometer in highly suitable habitats. The Indian muntjac boasts keen senses of smell, sight, and hearing that aid its reclusive nature. It usually forages solitarily on the forest floors in search of fallen fruit and vegetation. Its petite frame allows for nimble movements through dense woods and rapid escape from predators.Â
Their counting pattern provides effective camouflage in the dappled forest light. If confronted, muntjacs may emit loud piercing barks combined with their intimidating upper canine display to scare off intruders.
Diet and Foraging Behavior
Barking deer are herbivorous browsers that feed on a variety of forest vegetation. Their primary diet consists of leaves, shoots, grasses, lichens, fungi, berries, seeds, bark, and plant stems. Heavy browsing on the forest floor targets ferns, vines, shrubs, bushes, and low-hanging foliage. Fruits and flowering plants also serve as important seasonal food sources.
The solitary deer usually emerges in the early morning or late afternoon to forage. It relies on an acute sense of hearing and smell to locate preferred plants while foraging. Barking deer follow well-established trails to navigate their wooded territories. Due to their small stature, they can access growth below the reach of larger herbivores like deer and cattle.
Season and habitat impact food availability. Leafy shrubs and ferns sustain the muntjac year-round while fruits, seeds, and flowers supplement its diet during monsoon and winter. Crops near forest edges also attract the opportunistic feeder. Population densities correlate strongly with the extent and diversity of the forest understory vegetation.
Reproduction and Lifespan
The barking deer breeding season peaks from February to April in Nepal. Though generally shy creatures, males aggressively seek out females during this period. Rituals involve males emitting loud calls and scraping bark to establish temporary territories. Actual mating is brief but may be repeated for up to seven hours.
After a gestation period lasting 30-32 weeks, a single fawn is born, sometimes two. Fawns weigh just 600-700 grams at birth. They display white spots and stripes for the first 4 months of life. The young stay hidden in dense vegetation while the female forages nearby. They are weaned by seven months old.
In the wild, barking deer seldom live over 10-12 years on average. The main threats derive from hunting and predation from leopards, wild dogs, and pythons. In protected spaces with fewer threats, they may survive up to 16 years.Â
Captive lifespans can extend even longer to 20 years given ample food sources and veterinary care. Their longevity allows healthy populations to recover if good habitat persists.
Social Structure and Behavior
The Indian muntjac is considered a solitary animal that maintains well-defined home ranges with little overlap. Adult males tend to remain solitary outside of the mating season when they temporarily overlap with one or two females. Segregation seems pronounced even during times of high population density in optimal habitats.
Barking deer communicate territorial boundaries using scent glands near their hooves and face. Males also employ forehead glands to attract females. Visual signals like an erect tail convey aggression if boundaries are crossed. Of course, loud distinctive barks broadcast warnings too. Even the fawns bleat softly to signal their mother when threatened.
The species earned the name “barking deer” from its remarkably dog-like alarm call. This piercing vocal consists of 2-7 repetitive barks. It serves to startle predators and warn other deer in the vicinity.Â
This unique alarm call resounds loudly through Nepal’s forests, reminding one that the shy creatures remain observant and evasive. The vocalizations peak during summer mating conflicts.
Conservation Status
The Indian muntjac holds no elevated conservation status in Nepal at present. Classified as a "protected" species, it receives protections akin to most wild mammals in the country. Their wide distribution and absence of quantified population data contribute to the lack of heightened protections. Yet localized threats exist, especially near protected parks.
Threats and Challenges
Habitat loss poses the gravest danger, as lowland forests face logging and conversion to agriculture. Poaching further targets the species for subsistence food and traditional medicine. An estimated 9,000 barking deer fall to poachers annually across Nepal. Larger threats loom from leopards and pythons too. Also, the shy creatures remain exceptionally vulnerable to dog attacks at forest fringes near rural villages.
Conservation Efforts
While lacking focused recovery plans, the deer inhabits protected parks like Chitwan and Bardia, offering refuge. Expansion of community forests and antipoaching initiatives also assist local populations countrywide. Continued monitoring of isolated groups seems warranted to identify future conservation priorities before high-risk populations decline severely. Maintaining connectivity corridors between wooded areas can support the solitary but widespread species across Nepal's lowlands.
Cultural and Economic Significance
The barking deer does not hold pronounced religious or mythological significance in Nepal. But its loud alarm calls generate frequent mentions in Nepali folk tales and fables. The cries often serve to accentuate the suspense and drama in stories centered around forests or rural farmlands.
Economically, the deer supports substantial illicit local trade despite its protected status. Estimated annual values from poached venison likely reach several thousand US dollars around core habitats. The cultural draw of wild game meats sustains the practice.
However, as a charismatic forest-dweller, the muntjac holds some ecotourism value too. The potential to see a barking deer enhances the visitor appeal of wildlife expeditions and jungle walks in protected lands like Chitwan National Park. Camera trap photos draw interest from researchers documenting elusive rainforest species. Still, the shy deer cannot compete with endangered tigers and rhinos that headline Nepal's wildlife tourism.
So while not integral to cultural identities or economies, the ubiquitous barking deer epitomizes the rich biodiversity of Nepal. Its cries reveal an ecological connectivity between forest, farm, and village. Maintaining these bonds remains vital to preserving the nation's natural heritage.
Research and Studies
Relatively few studies focus exclusively on the Indian muntjac in Nepal, but some habitat analyses include population density data. Chitwan National Park supports one of the most thoroughly researched barking deer populations globally. Long-term camera trapping and vegetation surveys reveal habitat preferences and prey dynamics.
Elsewhere, survey estimates help establish distribution, while scat studies provide dietary insights. However significant knowledge gaps persist regarding isolated sub-populations and even baseline population sizes, trends, and genetics countrywide. Quantitative approaches utilizing remote cameras and DNA analysis offer future potential.
Specifically, habitat connectivity mapping between protected zones deserves attention to guide management policies. Genetic comparisons of isolated groups can also inform captive breeding and relocation considerations. Filling home range and behavioral data gaps via field observation and tracking collars provides additional opportunities.
Regarding major threats, spatial modeling could target poaching and human-wildlife conflict hotspots for preemptive interventions. Similarly, evaluating deer responses to various crop deterrents would assist farmers. Overall, integrating SITE-specific barking deer priorities into existing tiger and rhino conservation plans promises more holistic, ecosystem-based approaches in Nepal.
In conclusion, the barking deer, or Indian muntjac, remains an iconic and ecologically vital species across Nepal’s lowland forests. Though seldom seen, its loud cries echo the nation’s forested history and biodiversity.
To summarize key details, the small russet deer inhabits sal, pine, and riverine woodlands, browsing on lush greenery. While wide-ranging, loss of habitat and overhunting impose increasing threats. Still, healthy populations likely persist, especially across well-protected parks.
This elusive “barking deer” represents a vital component of balanced rainforest ecosystems. Through seed dispersal and its role as a prey species, the muntjac facilitates regeneration and supports predators higher up the food chain as well. Conserving localized populations maintains this delicate connectivity.
Thus increased awareness and ecosystem-based management plans can ensure Nepal’s forests resound with barking deer cries for generations to come. Protecting the lesser-known species remains just as integral as saving the tiger and rhino to preserve the country’s natural heritage. The barking deer’s fate stands intrinsically interwoven with Nepal’s environmental future.
References
Aryal, A. et al. "Muntiacus muntjak". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014.
Dhakal, M. et al. "Feeding ecology of barking deer Muntiacus muntjak and common langurs Semnopithecus entellus in Chitwan National Park, Nepal". Ecological Research. 2014.
Jnawali, S. et al. The Status of Nepal Mammals: The National Red List Series. Nepal, 2018.
Khadka, K., James, D. "Population status and habitat occupancy of endangered hog deer and sympatric large mammals in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Nepal". PLOS One. 2019.
Silori, C., Mishra, B. “Perception of local people towards wildlife conservation: a case study from the Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, India”. Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management. 2001.
UNEP-WCMC. UNEP-WCMC species database: CITES-listed species. UNEP-WCMC, Cambridge, UK. 2020. Accessed Dec 2, 2023.