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Chital
The spotted deer of India — a graceful, dappled deer of the forest, and the most common sight on almost any Indian safari.
How to spot it
A medium deer with a bright rufous coat covered in rows of white spots kept all through life, a white throat and belly, and a dark stripe down the back. Only the males carry the elegant three-tined antlers.
Where it lives
Forests, woodland and grassy clearings across India, Nepal and Sri Lanka — from Corbett and Ranthambore to the southern jungles. It is by far the commonest deer in most Indian reserves.
What it eats
A grazer and browser feeding on grass, fallen fruit and leaves. It often follows troops of langur monkeys, hoovering up the leaves and fruit they drop from the canopy.
Behaviour & life
Highly social, gathering in herds for safety in the open. Its alarm call is the forest's early-warning system — a sharp bark that tells everyone a tiger or leopard is on the move. It is the main prey of India's big cats.
In India
Classed as Least Concern and common in protected areas, where it is a key prey species that supports tiger and leopard numbers. Protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act.
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