Locally known as ‘Kakad’, the Indian Muntjac is also commonly known as the Barking Deer. It makes a single-note dog-like barking call that is given out when the animal senses the presence of a predator. The deer is known to raise alarm at the slightest hint of a tiger, even when the predator is long gone but has left its scent on a tree or a bush. This makes the Indian Muntjac a highly unreliable animal to depend upon while tracking tigers. However, there are many occasions, when we get to see a tiger while following the alarm calls of this animal, especially when some other creature takes up the alarm, like the langur or spotted deer, who are far more reliable and raise alarm only when the tiger is nearby.
Unlike the other deer species that are herbivores, the Indian Muntjac is omnivore and is known to also include bird eggs, small animals and occasionally indulges in scavenging on carrion. This male Indian Muntjac was seen on a safari to Corbett Tiger Reserve by Jim’s Jungle Retreat naturalist Jeewan Rautela.
The Indian Muntjac
