How is the Barasingha being conserved?

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The Indian Swamp deer commonly known as the Barasingha (one with 12 tines in its antlers) is one of the most endangered mammal species in the world. Its Hindi name may not hold true since the number of tines in its antlers can range anywhere from 10 to 20 but its English name ‘Swamp deer’ holds true and refers to the swampy habitat that these deer species prefer to live in.

This alluring and iconic species was once found in most of the Indian subcontinent but now it has become endemic to India and Nepal. Three vulnerable sub species have been distinguished on the basis of morphological features.

• Northern Swamp deer (Nepal)
• Central Indian Swamp deer (Kanha National Park, Madhya Pradesh.)
• Eastern Swamp deer. (in North- east India and Uttar Pradesh.)

The Hard- ground Swamp deer has the smallest population of all the subspecies. They are relatively smaller in size, have long nasals, short snouts and more branched antlers and unlike other two subspecies, their hooves are adapted to hard and dry ground conditions. Free ranging population previously only existed in Kanha National Park. They are the state animal of Madhya Pradesh. The winter coat is dark brownish in color whereas during the breeding season in monsoon, the coat becomes a soothing reddish golden brown.

Barasingha Conservation in Kanha National Park

From a population of around 3,000 in 1938, the Hard-ground Barasingha went near the brink of extinction by the 1970s, with only a single population of 66 individuals in Kanha left in the whole world.

The management however was quick to address this and they started various methods to secure and encourage the growth of their population.

Habitat Managment

1. Village Relocation Over time, around 35 forest villages were relocated to expand the core area of Kanha National Park. This was done to increase the suitable habitat for the Swamp deer.
2. Evacuated sites morphed into excellent habitat for Barasingha — The village area which was degraded due to anthropogenic factors previously were enhanced into excellent grasslands by growing Swamp deer’s favorite diet.
3. Active grassland management — The grasslands were managed carefully, any woody flora or weeds was removed.
4. In-situ conservation enclosures at Kanha — Firstly, a 25 hectare predator free enclosure was created in the year 1996–1997 in the Kanha Reserve and eight Swamp dears were released in it. Overtime, the area was increased to 50 hectares. In 2010–2011, the number grew nearly 10 times and 80 of them were released back to the wild.
5. Swamp creation to reduce sympatric competition — As the name suggests, Swamp deer prefer to live near the swampy areas and forage in the water bodies of these areas. They are highly selective with their diet and hence artificial swamps were created to encourage the growth of their favorite grasses such as ‘Saccharum spontaneum’
6. Tall grass/ wallows/ shallow water tanks — Native tall grasses were planted and shallow water tanks were created making the area preferable for breeding and reproduction. Females give birth in dense and tall grasses, without these grasses, the fawn are at risk of predation.
7. Series of water ponds — Series of water ponds were created to encourage swampy regions in the meadows.

Population Monitoring and Management

1. Mortality Survey — Efforts were made to meticulously record all instances of mortality and their respective causes, ensuring that a significant majority of these occurrences are not left unobserved.
2. Daily Monitoring — Despite the considerable achievements and the current population of approximately 1000 Barasinghas inhabiting Kanha National Park, a daily virtual head count monitoring procedure continues to be diligently carried out. This meticulous process is undertaken to ensure accurate data collection and is promptly reported to the esteemed office of the Field Director on a daily basis.
3. Establishing a geographically separated population — Since the 1970s, a remarkable transformation has occurred in the population dynamics of a certain species within Kanha National Park. Initially, there existed a solitary population comprising a mere 66 individuals. However, through concerted conservation efforts and protective measures, the species has proliferated and currently inhabits three to four distinct geographic regions within the park. Moreover, these separate populations are characterized by the presence of 10 to 15 herds within each of them.

Barasingha Reintroduction Program

Nonetheless, recognizing the inherent risks associated with concentrating an entire population of Swamp deer solely within the confines of Kanha National Park, experts have diligently acknowledged the importance of diversifying their distribution. They were not ready to place “all the eggs in one basket”. The potential devastation caused by calamities or epidemics necessitates a proactive approach to ensure the long-term survival of the subspecies.

Therefore, it has become imperative to undertake deliberate measures that involve introducing the Swamp deer to other geographically isolated suitable habitats within various reserves across Madhya Pradesh.

First two translocations failed miserably. In 1982, 18 individuals who were taken to Bandhavgarh didn’t survive the trip itself. This was a big setback. Later after some years, a second attempt to take them to Supkhar meadows inside the Kanha National Park resulted in 50% mortality. It thus became a huge challenge. Finally after a lot of challenges, the third translocation was carried out. It was tireless efforts of the forest management and staff that made it a positive outcome. Seven Barasinghas were thus successfully translocated to Van Vihar in Bhopal. Even the pregnant females brought from Kahna successfully gave birth in Van Vihar proving that all the efforts were valiant.

After this, over time 58 Swamp deers were translocated to Satpura Tiger Reserve successfully. Now this population has exceeded 100 individuals. Currently efforts are being undertaken to introduce Swamp deers to Bandhavgarh National Park.

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Written by: Samarth Jain