Eastern swamp deer

Eastern swamp deer

Part of: Prelims and GS-III -Biodiversity; Environment 

Context: The population of the vulnerable eastern swamp deer, which is extinct elsewhere in South Asia, has dipped in the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve.

Key takeaways 

• The eastern swamp deer is endemic to Kaziranga and is not the primary prey of the park’s carnivores, primarily the tiger. 
• But its population is crucial for the ecological health of the tiger reserve.
• The encouraging sign is the animal has now moved to other areas such as Orang National Park and Laokhowa-Burachapori wildlife sanctuaries.

About Swamp deer

• There are three subspecies of swamp deer found in the Indian Subcontinent. 
  • The western swamp deer found in Nepal,
  • Southern swamp deer/Hard Ground Barasingha, found in central and north India and
  • Eastern swamp deer found in the Kaziranga (Assam) and Dudhwa National Parks (Uttar Pradesh).

• Protection Status of Swamp Deer:

• • IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
  • CITES: Appendix I
  • Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I

News Source: TH