Thamin, Brow-antlered deer
Eld's deer (Rucervus eldii (or Panolia eldii )), also known as the thamin or brow-antlered deer, is an endangered species of deer endemic to South Asia.
Eld's deer is an endangered species of deer that is native to South Asia. It has a very regal and graceful physique. Its legs are thin and long, and it has a long body with a large head on a thin neck. The throat of a male has a thick mane of long hair. Males (stags) are taller and heavier than females (does). Their coats, rough and coarse, change color with the season; in summer the color is reddish-brown, while in winter, it turns dark brown, with males tending to be darker than the females. The tail is short in length and the rump has no distinct patch.
Eld's deer were once widely distributed across South and Southeast Asia. Currently, they occur in small areas of Cambodia, China, India, Laos, and Myanmar. Eld's deer live in dry forests, valleys, plains, grasslands, savannas, and shrubland. They also occur in wetlands but prefer to avoid coastal areas.
Eld's deer are active at night spending most of the time foraging. During the day, they seek shelter from the midday sun where they can rest and ruminate. Outside of the breeding season males prefer to spend their time singly while females and their young live in herds throughout the year. Eld's deer are known to perform daily and seasonal migrations. They typically migrate for short periods seeking water in the dry season and food in the growing season.
Eld's deer are herbivores. Their diet consists of various grasses, herbaceous plants, and shoots, fruit, and wetland plants. They also poach into cultivated crops to graze and browse in nearby fields of rice, lentils, maize, peas, and grapes.
Eld's deers are polygynous and breed from February to May. During this time males are very aggressive and compete with each other for dominance in a harem of females. After a gestation period of 34 weeks, the female gives birth to a single fawn in a hidden place. She nurses her young for 5-7 months until it's strong enough to join the herd. At 1.5-2 years of age, the Eld's deer become reproductively mature and start to breed.
Eld's deer are prized as game by hunters due to their impressive antlers and hides that are in demand in local markets. They are also widely hunted for food; they were believed to have been used to feed armies during many Asian wars. The population of this species has additionally declined due to intense development activities necessitating reclamation of land for grazing, cultivation, and fish farming within their range. In Myanmar, Eld's deer are threatened by deforestation of the diperocarp forests. The habitat available for their protection is very limited and even in protected areas, the animals are poached. Eld's der has a fragmented distribution and are therefore at risk from inbreeding and loss of genetic variation.
There is no overall population estimate available for Eld's deer. However, there are estimates of its populations in specific areas: below 700 individuals in Cambodia and below 100 individuals in Myanmar. Currently, the Eld's deer is classified as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are decreasing.
