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

isk to the species including foot-and-mouth
(Aphtae epizooticae).
• Habitat degradation and loss.
Conservation Measures in Place
Grassland rehabilitation including controlled
burning, regular count and monitoring, water holes
for providing water during hot dry season in Shukla
Phanta Wildlife Reserve.
Conservation Recommendations
i) Develop trans-boundary initiatives including
cross-border law enforcement operations and
collaboration framework for protecting this species
and other wildlife.
ii) Enhance law enforcement in protected areas and
buffer zones.
iii) Continue monitoring population status and set
up a standardised system for collecting
demographic data on an ongoing basis.
iv) Control livestock grazing in Swamp Deer habitat.
v) Improve habitat management such as grassland
management and water hole maintenance.
vi) Undertake a feasibility study into creating a third
viable population in Chitwan National Park or Parsa
Wildlife Reserve.
vii) Develop swamp deer conservation action plan.
References
Schaller 1967, Martin 1977, Schaff 1978, Suwal and Verheugt 1995, Qureshi 1995, WWF-Nepal 2001, Subedi
2002, Qureshi et al. 2004, Duckworth et al. 2008c, Nepal Red List of Mammals National Workshop 2010.
VULNERABLE
12) Axis axis (Erxleben, 1777)
Common Names
Axis Deer, Indian Spotted Deer (English); Chital
(Nepali)
Species Description
The species has an orange rufous coat with white
spots, white underparts and a white bib. A darker
stripe runs along the back. Only males grow antlers
and have darker facial markings than females and
young.
Species Ecology
Axis Deer are more commonly known as Chital, and
occur in subtropical grasslands and forests. Preferred
habitat has been found to consist of riverine forest
during the hot dry season while Sal forest is
preferred during the monsoon season. Chital
occupy grassland habitats more in the weeks
following cutting and burning of grasses (January
to February), due to new grass growth. Chital feed
mainly on fruit, browse and grasses.
Chital are able to breed all year round, however
peaks are observed just after grass cutting and
burning. They have an average age at first
reproduction of 13 months and give birth to one or
two young after a gestation period of approximately
235 days.
Conservation Status
Global: Least Concern
36