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How to Identify Different Deer in Kanha National Park

Kanha National Park is famous for its tall sal forests, wide grasslands, and the wildlife species that are found there. Among all the animals that are seen inside the Kanha National Park, the most prominent one is the deer species. They easily come in front of humans and let them enjoy their safari. They roam in big groups, walk near the safari tracks, and sometimes even give alarm calls when a tiger or leopard is around. But many tourists get confused because all the deer look similar at first glance. 

Through this blog, you can understand how to identify the different kinds of deer when you go for a Kanha Safari. If you know about some simple signs, then you can enjoy your thrilling safari a lot more. Every deer species in this park has its own look, size, behaviour, and personality.

1. Chital (Spotted Deer): 

If you spot a deer within the first few minutes of your Kanha safari, then chances are high that it will be a Chital deer. They are also known as the spotted deer. You can identify them by their white spots all over their reddish-brown body. They have tails that have a white underside that flashes when they run. Furthermore, chital deer also have soft and gentle features with big black eyes and round ears. The male spotted deer have beautiful branched antlers that grow up to three feet long.

They are mostly spotted in groups as they move together inside the park. Sometimes they are found even in 20 - 30 numbers in one place. They are very alert animals. If they sense a predator, they give a loud alarm call that sounds like a sharp “krr-krr.” This call often tells your guide that a tiger or leopard is nearby.

They roam everywhere inside the Kanha National Park - in the meadows, near water bodies, on forest roads, and even in the buffer zone. They are the favourite prey of tigers, so tigers are often seen in areas where chital are present in good numbers.

2. Sambar Deer: 

When you go for a Kanha safari and spot a deer that looks huge and dark, almost like a small horse,  then know that it is a Sambar deer. They are the biggest deer species in India and are very important in the forest ecosystem. To identify the sambar deer inside Kanha National Park, you can look at the skin colour, as it is usually dark brown. Sometimes their skin looks almost black, especially during the winter season. Their tail is short and not very noticeable. Their body size is large, even as big as a pony. Sambar deer also have a shaggy neck, especially males. The male sambar deer also has thick, strong antlers with three points.

The alarm calls that sambar deer use inside the park are not a scream but a deep, loud “dhonk” sound. It is one of the most powerful warning calls that is identified by the guides. When a sambar calls, the guides know a tiger or leopard is very close. The gypsy drivers sometimes follow the Dhonk sound of Sambar, and in turn, tourists get an amazing experience of a big animal sighting. 

Sambar deer are mostly seen in the dense sal forests and the shady locations of the Pench National Park. You can see the Sambar deer alone or in small groups of two or three. They don’t move inside the park in large groups. They are also shy and often hide behind bushes, so keep your eyes sharp during the Pench safari if you wanna see the Sambar deer. 

3. Barasingha (Swamp Deer): 

These are the most special deer species of Kanha National Park. They are even known as the hard-ground swamp deer. The Kanha National Park is one of those few places in the World where the rare species of Swamp deer are found. And this is the reason that barasingha is the pride of Kanha National Park. 

To identify the Barasingha inside the Kanha National Park, you can see their color, which is golden yellow. The males have long antlers with many points. Even the name of these deer species - Barasingha comes from “bara + singha”, which means “twelve antlers.” The body size of the Barasingha deer species is bigger than chittal but smaller than the Sambar deer. They also have thick neck fur, through which they are identified by the guides and drivers of your safari. 

The Barasingha move inside the park in herds, especially during the winter season. Seeing a group of 20 - 40 barasingha walking together in the meadows is one of the most beautiful sights in Kanha. They are mostly found in the Kanha meadows, Sonf meadows, and other open grassy areas. Kanha National Park saved the deer from extinction when there were only about 60 of them left. Now, their population has increased a lot, and it is proof of a successful conservation story. 

4. Barking Deer (Indian Muntjac): 

On a Kanha safari adventure, if you see a very small deer that suddenly jumps into the bushes like a quick flash, then know it is a barking deer. To identify them, the first thing is that they are small in size, just like a goat. Their color is reddish brown, and they have no big antlers. They just have tiny, short ones on males. The tail of the barking deer is white underneath, and they have a thin, delicate face.

The most interesting thing about barking deer is their call. They bark like a dog and produce a sound “bhau bhau” when they sense danger. Their sound is the reason they are known as the barking deer. Their alarm call is sharp and very helpful for tracking predators. Whenever you go for a safari inside the Kanha National Park, just know that if you listen to “Bhau bhau,” then a barking deer is near you. 

Mostly, these species of deer like to stay in the thick areas of the forest, and they stay away from the grasslands. They are very shy in nature and run quickly inside the bushes whenever they see a gypsy or humans. Sighting a barking deer is not an easy task. Safari goers have to be quiet and patient to spot them.