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Species in News: Chital
Context:
A recent paper suggests that the distribution Chital within the 5,000 square kilometres of the Chennai Metropolitan Area should be mapped. It recommends identifying the different sub-populations and key corridors to effectively manage the species’ population.
About Chital
- Common Names: Chital or cheetal (Axis axis), Asiatic deer; also known as spotted deer, chital deer, and axis deer.
- Native Range: Indian subcontinent.
- In 1947, a small herd of spotted deer, previously held captive within a paddock at the Government House in what was then Madras, was released into the ‘Guindy Lodge,’ a wilderness area surrounding the Raj Bhavan. This area later evolved into the Guindy Deer Park and eventually became the Guindy National Park in 1978.
- Size:
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- Males: Reach up to 90 cm (35 in) at the shoulder; weigh 70–90 kg (150–200 lb).
- Females: Reach up to 70 cm (28 in) at the shoulder; weigh 40–60 kg (88–132 lb).
- Sexual Dimorphism: Males are larger and have antlers; antlers are three-pronged and nearly 1 metre (3 feet 3 inches) long.
- Appearance:
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- Upper parts: Golden to rufous with white spots.
- Underside: White, including abdomen, rump, throat, inner legs, ears, and tail.
- Conservation Status:
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- Listed as “Least Concern” on the IUCN Red List due to its wide range and large populations.
- No current range-wide threats, but local population densities are affected by hunting and competition with domestic livestock.
- Legal protection under Schedule III of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act (1972) and the Wildlife (Preservation) (Amendment) Act, 1974 of Bangladesh.
- Introduced Locations:
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- Andaman Islands, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Paraguay, Uruguay, Alabama, Point Reyes National Seashore (California), Florida, Hawaii, Mississippi, Texas (USA), and Veliki Brijun Island (Croatia).
- EU Regulation: As of August 2, 2022, listed as an invasive alien species by the European Union, leading to a ban on its import.
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Guindy National Park
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