Indian Hog deer and Rajaji Tiger Reserve

The Indian hog deer has recently been spotted for the first time at the Rajaji Tiger Reserve, during the ongoing Phase 4 monitoring for tigers.

About the Indian Hog deer:

• The Indian Hog deer is a small cervid native to the region of the Indian subcontinent and Indo-Gangetic Plain.
• It is also known as Indochinese hog deer.
• They inhabit grasslands, swamps, and dense thickets in the proximity of water bodies such as rivers and lakes.
• The name “hog deer” is derived from their habit of wallowing in mud like a hog.
• They are herbivores, feeding on grasses and other vegetation, and are an important prey species for predators in the ecosystem.

Found in:

• It is found in various countries across South and Southeast Asia, including India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam.
• In India, hog deer are found in regions like the Gangetic plains, foothills of the Himalayas, and the northeastern states.
• Protected areas such as Kaziranga National Park in Assam are known for their hog deer populations.

Characteristics:

• The Hog deer are relatively small as compared to other deer species.
• They have a distinct appearance with a dark brown coat, and both males and females have short, and straight antlers.

Conservation Status:

• IUCN: Endangered
• The Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I
• CITES: Appendix III 

About the Rajaji Tiger Reserve:

• The Rajaji Tiger Reserve is situated in the Shivalik range of the Himalayas, in Uttarakhand.
• The reserve is named after Chakravarti Rajagopalachari, a prominent leader of the Indian independence movement and the last Governor-General of India.
• It is a part of Project Tiger, which aims to conserve and protect the population of Bengal tigers in their natural habitats.
• It is the 48^th Tiger Reserve of the country. 
• The reserve includes 3 national parks- Rajaji National Park, Motichur Wildlife Sanctuary, and Chilla Wildlife Sanctuary.
• The Ganges River flows through the Rajaji Tiger Reserve, adding to the ecological significance of the region.
• It has an elephant corridor that facilitates the movement of elephants between Rajaji and Corbett National Park.
• Vegetation types: Western Gangetic Moist, Northern Dry Deciduous, Low Alluvial Savannah Woodlands, and the Shiwalik Chir-Pine forests.
• Flora: Euphorbiaceae, Lamiaceae, Asteraceae, Sissoo, Sal, Khair, Jamun, Chilla, Ber, Lassora, Aonla, Ficus, Bel, etc. 
• Fauna: Bengal Tiger, Asian Elephant, Leopard, Goral, Striped Hyena, Himalayan Black Bear, many species of deer etc.

Other key facts:

• Phase-IV monitoring for tigers, emphasises use of camera traps for obtaining minimum tiger numbers, estimation of population size and using line transect sampling for estimating prey densities.

Ref: Source