Rare Sambar fawn born at Ctg Zoo

Sambar deer, a rare sub-continental deer species, gave birth to a fawn at the Chattogram Zoo on Tuesday (September 29), increasing the number of samba deer to five in the zoo.

Chattogram Zoo Deputy Curator Dr Shahadat Hossain Shuvo confirmed the matter and said, "The fawn weighs about 3 kg and is kept under observation for 15 days, which is a critical window after the birth for the species."

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has red-listed sambar deer in 2008 as a vulnerable species.

In 2007, the Chattogram Zoo authorities brought two sambar deer Kazli and Laily. Kazli first gave birth on June 15, 2012, which was named Rekha.

"The sambar, a large deer native to the Indian subcontinent, South China, and Southeast Asia, is on the verge of extinction and is now rarely spotted in Bangladesh," Shahadat said adding that, they could be seen sporadically in Thanchi upazila of Bandarban district.

Dr Shahadat further added, "The drastic decline of  sambar deer in number has been caused by the ruthless deforestation, poaching, as well as the industrialisation of its habitat."

Currently, the Chattogram Zoo, which is the only harbourer of sambar deer in the country, has 31 deer of three species. Among them, 22 are spotted deer, four barking deer and five sambar deer.

The Zoo currently houses 620 animals of 66 species, including mammal, reptile and bird species.