Brow-antlered deer or Sangai Deer

The brow-antlered deer, locally called Sangai is one of the most localized deer of the world. It is found only in the swampy habitat of Keibul Lamjao National Park in Manipur. The deer is peculiar in having a pair of ‘arc’ shaped antlers on tha pedicles. Standing height of an adult male reaches upto 120 cm. and a female 1005 cam. Rutting season of Sangai extends from late January to a little over the end of March. It is a monoesterus deer, and a doe gives a fawn during October – November, after a gestation period of 245-273 days (shamungou 1992).

According to the latest count by the forest department, Government of Manipur, 149 heads of Sangai are surviving in the Keibul Lamjao National Park. They are facing the all round threatening factors of destruction of the feeding and breeding ground areas. Outside Manipur, more than 100 specimens of sangai are found as captive in various Zoos of the country. Delhi zoo hosts maximum numbers of captive sangai, the Wildlife Institute of India has taken a conversation programme, in which the Sangais (from captive stocks, say from Delhi, Calcutta or other zoos of the country) are to be introduced in the proposed second home located at Pabitora in Assam. In the first phase, herds each consisting of 5 males and 10 females from the zoo population will be kept in the enclosers for 3-4 years. This will help in increasing the numbers and after the stipulated period, the enclosers will be removed and sangai will be released. The species is a critically endangered now.

By
Dr. Shamungou