Young chital deer graze on the banks of the world's largest halophytic mangrove forest.
The spotted deer, or chital, is the most common deer species in Indian forests. With a lifespan of about 20 to 30 years, it stands at about 35 inches tall and weighs about 187 pounds. The deer’s golden-rufus colouring is speckled with white spots, and it has a white underbelly. Its curved, three-pronged antlers extend nearly 3 feet and shed each year.
Due to these tropical conditions, males do not have synchronized antler cycles. The size and hardness of a male’s antlers demonstrate their dominance; those with velvet antlers that are still growing or have no horns at all are unlikely to fight for a female’s attention.
Spotted deer most commonly occur in herds of 10 to 50 individuals, with one or two males and a number of females and young. They primarily eat grasses and vegetation but will also ingest their shed antlers as a source of nutrients.
