Deer of Dudhwa National Park – Barasingha, Sambar, Chital & More
Discover the kingdom of deer in Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, home to five unique species including the iconic Swamp Deer (Barasingha) — Uttar Pradesh’s state animal. From majestic Sambar and graceful Chital, to Hog Deer and Barking Deer, these species shape the Terai ecosystem and offer unforgettable wildlife encounters for safari-goers.
With the world’s largest population of Barasingha (2,000+ individuals, 2022 census, UP Forest Dept.), Dudhwa is a must-visit destination for deer enthusiasts, photographers, and wildlife lovers alike.
Deer of Dudhwa National Park – Kingdom of Deer
Nature has blessed Dudhwa National Park with one of the richest deer populations in India. Deer are the true architects of the Terai ecosystem, balancing grasslands through grazing and serving as the primary prey base for tigers, leopards, and wild dogs. Unlike cattle, which carry permanent horns, deer shed and regrow their branched antlers every year. Covered in a soft, sensitive skin called velvet, the antlers harden as they mature and are used in spectacular rutting battles to claim harems of females. Later, they are shed — a fascinating natural cycle that reflects the seasonal rhythm of the forest.
Dudhwa is also alive with sound. All species of deer have alarm calls — sharp barks, whistles, or stamping of feet — to warn others of predators. During the rutting season, the forest echoes with the loud roars and bellows of stags, signaling rivalry and mating intent. Hinds (females) usually live in family groups, while males often lead solitary lives outside the breeding season. Deer coats also change with the seasons: lighter and spotted in summer for camouflage in dry grass, darker and denser in winter to blend with thick sal forests.
Today, Dudhwa Tiger Reserve is home to five major deer species:
Swamp Deer (Barasingha) – the pride of Dudhwa and the state animal of Uttar Pradesh
Sambar Deer (Rusa unicolor) – India’s largest deer species, often seen in hilly terrain
Spotted Deer (Chital / Axis axis) – the most graceful and abundant species
Hog Deer (Axis porcinus) – short-legged, stocky deer often found in grasslands
Barking Deer (Muntiacus muntjak) – solitary, small-sized deer with a dog-like alarm call
Together, these deer make Dudhwa the “Kingdom of Deer”, offering visitors the chance to witness herds grazing in golden grasslands, stags locking antlers in combat, or a solitary barking deer’s sharp call cutting through the silence of the jungle.
Swamp Deer (Barasingha) – Jewel of Dudhwa
The Swamp Deer (Rucervus duvaucelii duvaucelii), locally called Barasingha or “twelve-tined deer,” is the state animal of Uttar Pradesh and the crown jewel of Dudhwa National Park. Once nearly extinct, this magnificent deer now thrives here, with the park harboring the largest population of swamp deer in the world — over 2,000 individuals (2022 census, UP Forest Dept.).
They flourish in the marshy grasslands of Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary, Sonaripur, and Jhad Tal, areas famous for winter congregations where 800+ barasingha can gather in a single herd — a spectacle unmatched anywhere else in Asia. Their lyre-shaped antlers, darker winter coats, and alarm calls make them easy to identify during safaris.
Conservation of the barasingha is deeply tied to Billy Arjan Singh’s legacy, the visionary who worked under Project Tiger to save the species from extinction in the 1970s. Today, the swamp deer are listed as Vulnerable (IUCN) and protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
For safari-goers, watching a herd of barasingha grazing against golden grasses is one of the most iconic and unforgettable moments of Dudhwa — earning the park its reputation as the true “Kingdom of Deer.”
Sambar Deer – The Giant of Indian Forests
The Sambar Deer (Rusa unicolor) is India’s largest deer species, towering up to 300 kg in weight and 150 cm at the shoulder. Known for its coarse dark-brown coat and rugged three-tined antlers, the sambar is a powerful grazer and a keystone prey species for tigers and leopards in Dudhwa Tiger Reserve.
These deer prefer sal forests and hilly terrain, often forming small family groups. Stags are solitary most of the year but display dramatic behavior during the rutting season, when their resonant alarm call — a loud, ringing bark — alerts the forest to the presence of predators like tigers or leopards. This call is so distinctive that many safari-goers identify predator activity by following sambar alarm sounds.
The sambar is listed as Vulnerable (IUCN) and protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Despite being harder to spot than the barasingha, a glimpse of a majestic stag in the misty sal forests of Dudhwa remains a safari highlight.
In Dudhwa, the sambar population is steadily recovering under UP Forest Department conservation programs and continues to play a vital role in balancing the Terai ecosystem.
Spotted Deer (Chital) – The Iconic Prey Base
The Spotted Deer (Axis axis), locally known as Chital, is perhaps the most familiar and graceful deer species of Dudhwa National Park. With its reddish-brown coat dotted with white spots and a white underbelly, the chital is instantly recognizable and a favorite subject for wildlife photographers.
Chital are highly social animals, usually seen in large herds grazing in grasslands or forest edges, often in the company of langurs who alert them to approaching predators. Their abundance and agility make them the primary prey base for Bengal Tigers and Leopards in Dudhwa, ensuring the survival of big cats and maintaining the predator–prey balance of the Terai ecosystem.
They are most active in the early mornings and late evenings, moving gracefully across meadows in herds of 20–50 individuals. During safaris, chital are among the first animals tourists encounter, often spotted in the Sathiana and Kishanpur ranges of Dudhwa. Their distinctive high-pitched alarm calls signal the presence of tigers or leopards, creating moments of suspense during jungle drives.
The IUCN Red List categorizes spotted deer as a species of Least Concern due to their wide distribution in the Indian subcontinent, but they remain protected under Schedule III of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. In Dudhwa, conservation efforts ensure that this iconic species continues to thrive as both a safari attraction and an ecological keystone.
Hog Deer – The Shy Sprinter
The Hog Deer (Axis porcinus) is a short-legged, stocky deer species that is perfectly adapted to the swampy grasslands and riverine meadows of Dudhwa National Park. Unlike other deer, hog deer move with their heads low and tails raised, resembling wild hogs in their gait — a feature that gives them their common name.
They are most commonly found in the Sonaripur and Kishanpur ranges, where tall elephant grass provides both cover and grazing opportunities. Hog deer are often seen singly or in small groups, feeding near swampy edges where they coexist with barasingha and wild boars.
Ecologically, hog deer are vital because they graze selectively, helping maintain open grass patches that benefit other herbivores. Their alarming whistles and sudden dashes into cover are often the first signs of predator presence, making them important contributors to the forest’s natural “early warning system.”
Once widespread across the Indian subcontinent, hog deer populations have declined due to habitat loss, but Dudhwa remains one of their last strongholds in North India. They are classified as Endangered by the IUCN Red List and enjoy full legal protection under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
For safari-goers, spotting a hog deer darting through the grasslands of Dudhwa is a rewarding experience, adding to the diversity of deer sightings beyond the more commonly seen chital.
Barking Deer (Muntjac) – The Smallest and Shyest
The Barking Deer (Muntiacus muntjak), also called the Indian Muntjac, is the smallest and most secretive of all deer species found in Dudhwa National Park. Recognizable by its short antlers, reddish-brown coat, and dog-like bark, this solitary deer is a master of stealth in the Terai’s dense sal forests and thickets.
True to its name, the barking deer produces a sharp, repetitive barking call whenever it senses danger, alerting other animals and even safari-goers of predators like tigers and leopards. These alarm calls often echo through the forest in the early mornings and evenings, creating an atmosphere of suspense during jungle drives.
Unlike social species like chital, barking deer are usually solitary or found in pairs. They feed on leaves, fruits, and shoots, playing a quiet but important role in maintaining Dudhwa’s forest ecology. Sightings are less common, as they prefer the dense undergrowth of Kishanpur and Sathiana ranges, but lucky visitors can spot them darting across forest tracks.
IUCN Status: Least Concern (widespread but declining locally)
Protection: Schedule III, Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
For wildlife enthusiasts, spotting a barking deer and hearing its alarm call is a reminder that even the smallest mammals of Dudhwa play a crucial role in the balance of the ecosystem.
Ecological Role of Deer in Dudhwa
Deer form the backbone of Dudhwa’s food chain and shape the Terai ecosystem:
Swamp deer (barasingha) maintain marshy ecosystems and represent Dudhwa’s biggest conservation success.
Sambar and chital act as the primary prey base for apex predators like tigers and leopards.
Hog deer and barking deer thrive in specialized niches, adding diversity across grasslands, riverine areas, and forest edges.
Their seasonal coats, group dynamics, and unique alarm calls not only enrich the forest’s rhythm but also help rangers, researchers, and tourists understand predator–prey behavior in real time.
Quick Facts – Deer of Dudhwa National Park
| Species | Scientific Name | IUCN Status | Protection (India) | Habitat in Dudhwa | Unique Fact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swamp Deer (Barasingha) | Rucervus duvaucelii duvaucelii | Vulnerable | Schedule I, WPA 1972 | Marshy grasslands, esp. Kishanpur (Jhadi Tal) | World’s largest herd (800+ in one area) |
| Sambar Deer | Rusa unicolor | Vulnerable | Schedule I, WPA 1972 | Sal forests, hilly terrain, forest edges | Loudest alarm call in Indian forests |
| Spotted Deer (Chital) | Axis axis | Least Concern | Schedule III, WPA 1972 | Open meadows, near waterholes | Most abundant deer, often with langurs |
| Hog Deer | Axis porcinus | Endangered (South Asia) | Schedule I, WPA 1972 | Riverine grasslands, open plains | Runs with head low like a wild hog |
| Barking Deer (Muntjac) | Muntiacus muntjak | Least Concern | Schedule III, WPA 1972 | Dense undergrowth, forest fringes | Emits sharp “bark” call; males have tiny tusks |
FAQ – Deer of Dudhwa National Park
Dudhwa is home to five major deer species — Swamp Deer (Barasingha), Sambar, Spotted Deer (Chital), Hog Deer, and Barking Deer (Muntjac).
The Swamp Deer (Barasingha) is the most iconic, with the largest population in the world — over 2,000 individuals, mostly seen in Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary.
Barasingha, also called the “twelve-tined deer,” is the state animal of Uttar Pradesh and was saved from extinction here under Project Tiger and Billy Arjan Singh’s conservation work.
The best sightings are around Jhadi Tal in Kishanpur Sanctuary, where herds of 50–100 individuals often gather, making it one of Asia’s largest deer congregations.
Yes, the Sambar is India’s largest deer species and is common in Dudhwa’s sal forests and hilly terrain. Their loud alarm calls often warn of tigers and leopards nearby.
Deer are the main prey base for tigers and leopards, maintain grasslands and marshes, and act as ecological indicators of forest health.
Globally, the swamp deer is listed as Vulnerable by IUCN, but Dudhwa holds the world’s largest secure population under strict protection.
Sambar are the favorite prey of Bengal Tigers in Dudhwa. Their abundance ensures predator survival and keeps the ecosystem balanced.
Yes, though rarer than chital, Hog Deer are found in riverine grasslands and open plains. They run with their heads low, resembling wild hogs.
The Barking Deer, or muntjac, is known for its sharp “bark-like” alarm call. Males have small tusk-like canines used during fights.
The best time is November to April, when grass is short and herds are more visible near grasslands and water sources.
In the 1970s, the Barasingha population fell below 100. With help from Project Tiger and relocation efforts, today over 2,000 thrive in Dudhwa.