40 spotted deer translocated within Karnataka marking a new era in wildlife management

  • February 23, 2024
  • Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
  • Category: DPN Topics
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40 spotted deer translocated within Karnataka marking a new era in wildlife management

Subject: Environment

Section: Species in news

Context:

  • The Sri Chamarajendra Zoo of Mysuru has undertaken a significant wildlife conservation effort by translocating 40 spotted deer from Ittigagud in Mysuru to the Pansoli range in the Kali Tiger Reserve, Dandeli, Uttara Kannada district.

Details:

  • This operation marks a pioneering achievement in South India, especially given the scale and success of the translocation, which saw no fatalities or significant stress among the animals.
  • The initiative, led by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), aims to address the issue of excessive breeding of herbivores in captivity by relocating them to natural habitats where they can roam freely and maintain ecological balance.
  • The Kali Tiger Reserve was chosen due to its low prey-density and the opportunity for herbivores to thrive, contributing to the ecosystem’s health.
  • Concerns were raised about the potential transmission of pathogens from captive-bred animals to wildlife.

Spotted deer:

  • The chital or cheetal (Axis axis), also known as the spotted deer, chital deer and axis deer, is a deer species native to the Indian subcontinent.
  • It was first described and given a binomial name by German naturalist Johann Christian Polycarp Erxleben in 1777.
  • It is sexually dimorphic; males are larger than females, and antlers are present only on males.
  • The upper parts are golden to rufous, completely covered in white spots. The abdomen, rump, throat, insides of legs, ears, and tail are all white. The antlers, three-pronged, are nearly 1 m (3 ft 3 in) long.

Places in news:

  1. Sri Chamarajendra Zoo of Mysuru, Karnataka
  2. Kali Tiger Reserve, Dandeli, Uttara Kannada district of Krnataka-
    • The park is a habitat of Bengal tigers, black panthers and Indian elephants, amongst other distinctive fauna. The Kali River flows through the tiger reserve and is the lifeline of the ecosystem and hence the name.
    • In December 2015, Dandeli Anshi Tiger reserve was renamed to Kali Tiger Reserve.
40 spotted deer translocated within Karnataka marking a new era in wildlife management Environment