Sambhar Rusa unicolor is a large deer native to the Indian subcontinent, South China, and Southeast Asia, surpassed only in size by the moose and elk of Europe and North America. It is mostly nocturnal, preferring dense forest cover, close to water.
Chital Axisaxis, also known as Spotted Deer, is a native of the Indian Subcontinent and found in a variety of habitat. It is active during the day, sleeping during the cool early morning hours.
There is a fairly healthy population of these two herbivores in the Gir, forming the main prey of the Asiatic Lion and the leopard.
Water holes are visited nearly twice daily, with great caution, by most herbivores and there is always safety in numbers. Several species can be seen drinking together, especially during the summer months, when most water sources have dried up.
Picture shot on March 26, 2019, with a Canon DSLR EOS 550D, at a focal length of 160 mm, f/5.6, shutter speed 1/250s.
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