Kanha Barasingha - A Journey of Discovery

Now, let's talk about the Kanha Barasingha or the swamp deer. This is an unusual deer species. They are found across the Indian subcontinent but in pretty scattered populations when you look at northern and central India. Then there are a couple of isolated groups that hang out in southwestern Nepal.

In Nepal, the barasingha mainly ranges across the western regions, especially in Shuklaphanta and Bardiya National Parks, just south of the Himalayas. Back in India, you can spot these elegant creatures in six different areas of Uttar Pradesh, and they are mainly found in Kanha National Park, Madhya Pradesh. This deer species goes by the name of hard ground barasingha and is a total herbivore. They are found mainly munching on grasses and aquatic plants.

One of the coolest things about the barasingha is how peaceful they are. They often hang out with chital (spotted deer) and don't mind wading into the water, where they frequently dip their legs to snack on tasty water plants.

The Struggles of the Barasingha

Unfortunately, hunting and poaching, together with central Indian grasslands being cleared for agricultural use, have threatened the very existence of the barasingha. Because of these factors, the population decreased. Reserve officials had to intervene by removing them from danger.

Conservation Efforts: Reintroduction of the Barasingha

It is due to the dynamic conservation scale of Kanha National Park that officials made it a task to protect the swamp deer, which were hunted for their elaborate furs and impressive horns. Some of the wildlife relocations were part of the plan that involved the transplantation of gaur species to Bandhavgarh National Park while barasingha was translocated to Satpura Tiger Reserve.
Through such projects, nearly 500 barasinghas have been relocated into eight to nine places in Satpura. Besides this, a tiger conservation project has also been undertaken by translocating nearly twenty tigers to the same reserve. It is all part of a larger scheme to ensure these wonderful creatures thrive in their natural surroundings. Next time you are at Kanha, be sure to look out for these humble swamp deer-they indeed symbolize sheer strength!