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G. B. Pant High Altitude Zoo, Nainital, Uttarakhand.

Barking Deer(Muntiacus muntjak)

Scientific Classification:

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Order: Artidactyla

Suborder: ------

Family: Cervidae

Genus: Muntiacus

Species: muntjak

Subspecies: ------

Fun Facts:

Muntjak is the oldest species of deer. It exists on the planet at least 15 to 30 million years..


Muntjak is crepuscular animals (active at dusk and dawn). They are occasionally active during the night.


Muntjak is an important source of bush meat.


Fast Facts

Description: The more common of the two small Indian forest ruminants, the Barking Deer has a glossy brown coat with no under fur.
Size: Male: 100 to 110 cm     Female: 75 to 90 cm
Height: Male: 50 to 75 cm     Female: 45 to 65 cm
Weight: Male: 14 to 28 kg     Female: 12 to 20 kg
Diet: Grass, fruits, shoots, seeds, birds' eggs as well as small animals.
Sexual maturity: Male: 11 to 12 months     Female: 7 to 9 months
Estrous phase: 2 to 3 days
Gestation Period: 180 days
Young per birth: 1fawn
Life span: In wild: 10 to 15years     In captivity: 20 years
Habitat: Prefers hilly and moist areas in thick deciduous and evergreen forests.
Distribution: India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, the Indonesian islands, Taiwan and Southern China.
Current Population Status: Decreasing
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern