Rare deer breed at Kanpur zoo

KANPUR: Here is a piece of good news for all nature and wildlife lovers. Three Thamin deer (critically endangered specie of deer) have recently given birth to healthy fawns (one each) at the Kanpur zoological park.

Thamins, which are also known as ‘Brow Antlered Deer’ or ‘Dancing Deer’ or ‘Sangai Deer’ or ‘ Manipuri Deer’, come under the schedule one of the highly endangered species of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and have a maximum life span of only 10 years. The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources has, therefore, placed Thamins in the highly endangered specie and thus this animal has been accorded the highest protection to save it from extinction. The Thamin deer are medium in size and very much look-alike of ‘Barahsingha’ in appearance.

Extremely excited with the birth of Thamin calf, director, Kanpur zoo, while talking to TOI said: “It is indeed a matter of happiness that Thamins, which come under the schedule-I of the Wildlife Act and once at the verge of extinction in India, is doing pretty well here at the Kanpur zoo. Three female Thamins have given birth to healthy fawns. The visitors too have a reason to smile as they will also get ample opportunity to see this rare specie deer, seen very rarely at other zoos of the country.”

“Last year, female Thamins gave birth to four fawns. This year too, the fawn will gradually grow healthy like those of last year’s. We are taking special care by doubling the protein diet at the same time providing calcium and multivitamin to the lactating female Thamin,” informed a jubilant Rao.

Another senior zoo official, while speaking on the reasons why Thamins were on the verge of extinction, informed: “One of the main reasons for the diminishing population of the Manipur Brow Antlered deer is too much hunting. The destruction of their habitat has further worsened the situation.”

The Dancing Deer which are herbivorous and survives on a variety of water plants, grasses, herbaceous plants and shoots, prefers to stay in open Indian parkland areas or light woodland near rivers or wet marshy land. One can hardly find them in thick forests or woodland. They are endemic to Loktak pond and are found in Keibul Lamjao National Park in Manipur.

They have always been a cause of worry for the wildlife lovers due to their depleting numbers. Once estimated to be around 100 in 1955, Thamins are just 363 (according to the Central Zoo Authority’s inventory report published for the year 2008-09) in numbers at present. Out of which, presently there are around 180 Thamins in Keibul Lamjao National Park in Manipur. To save the population from any eventuality ex-situ conservation of this animal is being done in various zoological parks of India and Kanpur zoological park is one of them where, after providing conducive environment, the Thamins are doing absolutely well and the breeding is successfully going on.

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