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The Gujarat Forest Department has translocated 50 Spotted Deer (Chital) from the Sasan Gir Wildlife Division to the Mandvi Forest Range in Surat district. The initiative aims to strengthen the prey base for carnivores, restore ecological balance, and reduce human-wildlife conflict. Under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, the Chief Wildlife Warden can permit wildlife translocation for scientific management.

Why was the Translocation Undertaken?

The translocation is part of scientific wildlife management to improve the health of forest ecosystems. A larger herbivore population provides sufficient prey for predators such as Asiatic lions and leopards, reducing their movement into nearby villages in search of food. This helps conserve biodiversity while minimizing human-wildlife conflict.

Following the release, the deer will be monitored through camera traps, trained trackers, and forest personnel to assess their movement, habitat use, health, and survival.

About Spotted Deer (Axis axis)

The Spotted Deer, popularly known as Chital, is one of the most widespread deer species of the Indian subcontinent and an important prey species in Indian forests.

• Scientific Name:Axis axis
• Habitat: Deciduous forests, grasslands, riverine forests and forest fringes.
• Distribution: Native to India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. It has also been introduced to the Andaman Islands, where it has become an invasive species.

Male chital possess three-pronged antlers, which are shed and regrown every year. They are herbivores, feeding mainly on grasses, leaves, shoots and fallen fruits.

Ecological Significance

Spotted deer occupy a key position in the forest food chain. They are an important prey for tigers, leopards, Asiatic lions and Indian wolves, thereby supporting healthy predator populations. They also share a well-known symbiotic relationship with langur monkeys, benefiting from alarm calls and fruits dropped from trees.

Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List: Least Concern (LC)
• Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule II

The major threats to the species include habitat loss and fragmentation, poaching, and competition with livestock for grazing resources.