The Status of Nepal's Mammals: The National Red List Series - IUCN

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11) Rucervus duvaucelii (Cuvier, 1823)
Common Names
Swamp Deer (English); Barasingha (Nepali)
Synonyms
Cervus duvaucelii (Cuvier, 1823)
Species Description
Adult males have a dark brown coat during winter
and light brown in summer. Females generally are a
lighter colour than males. Males have twelve-tined
antlers.
Species Ecology
The Swamp Deer inhabits swampy habitats,
grasslands and floodplains. Swamp Deer are
exclusively grazers feeding only on grasses.
Females become sexually mature between two and
three years and produce a single offspring after a
gestation period of 240 to 250 days.
Conservation Status
Global: Vulnerable C1
National: Endangered B1+2ab(iii,v)
Rationale for assessment: Swamp Deer (Rucervus
duvaucelii) has been assessed as Endangered under
criterion B due to a small extent of occurrence of 1,
273 km 2 and area of occupancy of approximately
300 km 2 . There are very small numbers of this
species in Nepal and further examination of the
population structure may also qualify the species
for Endangered under criterion C. The population is
split between two locations, the protected areas of
Shukla Phanta Wildlife Reserve and Bardia National
Park. Due to a lack of connecting habitat and the
increased likelihood of poaching once species leave
the boundaries of protected areas, it is unlikely that
there is any movement or intermixing between
these two sub-populations. There are populations
of this species in the neighbouring areas of India,
however trans-boundary poaching continues to
be a threat to this species. Human disturbance and
overgrazing by livestock also causes habitat loss and
degradation to the species’ grassland and floodplain
habitat. The species’ close proximity to livestock
also raises concerns over potential spread of disease
such as foot and mouth and the severe impact this
could have on such a small population.
Legal Status
CITES Appendix I (as Cervus duvaucelii)
Listed in the National Parks and Wildlife
Conservation Act 2029 (1973) as protected priority
species. The species only occurs in protected areas.
National Population Size
Total: 1843
Adults: < 1,000
This species is restricted to two locations: Bardia
National Park with an estimated population of 100
individuals, and Shukla Phanta Wildlife Reserve with
an estimated 1743 individuals.
National Distribution
This species occurs only within the protected areas
of Bardia National Park and Shukla Phanta Wildlife
Reserve.
Distribution outside Nepal
India.
Main Threats
• Poaching (on the trans-boundary).
• Disease transmitted from livestock is a potential