Government of Nepal
Ministry of Forests and Environment
Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation

११औं अन्तराष्‍ट्रिय हिउँ चितुवा दिवस- २०८१ कार्तिक ७ (सन् २०२४ अक्टोवर, २३) | राष्ट्रिय संरक्षण दिवस २०८१ ( ७ असोज २०८१) सम्पन्न | विश्‍व बाघ दिवस ( Global Tiger Day, 29 July 2024)

Mammals

Cervus duvauceli

Swamp Deer (Cervus duvaucelii) belongs to Artiodactyla Order and Cervidae Family. It is native to Nepal, India and Pakistan in the world. It is found in Shukla Phanta National Park and Bardia National Park of Nepal. According to the Annual Report of DNPWC (2019), its population is 2325. The lifespan of swamp deer is 21 to 23 years. The body is brownish in colour with lower part white. The shape of the body includes 2 antlers with 6 branches in each. Its height is 1.8 m to 1.9 m, length 1.2 m to 1.35 m and weight is about 170 - 200 kg male and 140-145 kg female. The gestation period of swamp deer is 8 to 8.3 months. It is listed as a vulnerable species in the IUCN Red List category and Appendix I of CITES. National red list of mammals categorizes it as an endangered species. The legal status of this species in Nepal is Protected (Appendix I) under the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1973. It is protected because of its heavy habitat loss, habitat and poaching. It is traded in national and international markets due to meat, antler and skin.

Reference

  • Jnawali, S. R., Baral, H. S., Lee, S., Acharya, K. P., Upadhyay, G. P., Pandey, M., ... & Khatiwada, A. P. (2011). The Status of Nepal's Mammals: The National Red List Series-IUCN.