Eld’s deer (រមាំង) is a rare animal in the world nowadays, but they are present in Cambodia. Compared to neighboring countries, Cambodia has the most Eld’s deer population scattered in several provinces. We are going to look into some information about this interesting ungulate today, so check it out.
Appearance
An Eld’s deer can grow up to 1.2 meters tall, with antlers at a length of 99 centimeters. This deer species has coarse and rough coats that change color in different seasons. It is reddish-brown in summer and becomes dark brown in winter. The cool thing about them is the antlers that are bow or lyre in shape. Their antlers grow outwards and then inwards instead of upwards. There is also a smaller tine that grows toward the front of the head as well. Male Eld’s deer (stags) shed their antlers every year and the antlers reach their largest size during the breeding season.
Behavior
Generally, Eld’s deer are solitary so females usually hang out alone or with their young. However, females and their young gather in herds of up to 50 individuals during the mating season from February to April. Males also move around by themselves, but they will come to compete in rutting to gain control of the female harem.
Feeding & Habitat
Forbs and grass are the main courses in their diet, and their common meals include fruits, grasses, herbaceous, and wetland plants. In some parts of their habitats, they also browse and graze cultivated crops from nearby fields. So sometimes they are found in lentil fields, maize fields, pea fields, and rice fields.
Eld’s deer is endemic to South Asia and Southeast Asia, inhabiting forest habitats, lowland valleys, and plains. At the same time, they are also common in abandoned forests, dry dipterocarp forests, light woodland, and open parkland. However, they avoid coastal areas and dense forests so it is unlikely to find them there. Mainly, they are associated with areas that are seasonally burned to eat the new grasses that emerge after the fire. In Cambodia, Eld’s deer are found in Banteay Meanchey, Kampung Speu, Kratie, Mondulkiri, Pursat, Ratanakiri, Siem Reap, and Steung Treng. These ungulate mammals are also especially common in various areas in Preah Vihea province.
Threats
Many hunters favor Eld’s deer because of their unique antlers and high-quality hides which are also in demand. Besides overhunting for commercial purposes, deforestation, intense development activities, and poaching are also threats to their population.
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