Decrease in eastern swamp deer population at Kaziranga National Park

Context

The Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve released the Wetland Bird Estimation Report for 2021-2022. And the Eastern Swamp Deer census has revealed a slight decrease in their numbers due to two high floods in 2019 and 2020.

Key-highlights of the Report

• A total of 66,776 birds of 126 species were enumerated using the Point Count method.
• Out of this, 42,205 birds were counted in the Kaziranga National Park area while 24,571 birds were counted in Laokhowa and Burachapori Wildlife Sanctuaries.
• As per the report, the ten most populous species include: 
• Bar-headed Goose (16,552)
• Northern Pintail (9,493)
• Common Teal (5,631)
• Little Cormorant (3,462)
• Greylag Goose (3,453)
• Lesser Whistling Duck (3,401)
• Gadwall (2,430)
• Ferruginous Duck (2,236)
• Eurasian Coot (2133)
• Eurasian Wigeon (1,731)
• This is also the first time that Eastern Swamp Deer was estimated in the whole of the region. 
• Prior to this, it was only estimated in the Kaziranga National Park.
• Eastern Swamp Deer Estimation, 2022: In 2022, a total of 868 Eastern Swamp Deer have been recorded (including 173 male, 557 female, and 138 yearlings) compared to 907 in 2018. 
• A decline has been estimated in their population due to the two high floods in 2019 and 2020.
  
  

About Eastern swamp deer

• Eastern swamp deer (Rucervus duvaucelii ranjitsinhii), locally known as ‘Dal horina’ is the rarest recognised subspecies of swamp deer in India and Nepal. 
• The subspecies’ scientific name Rucervus duvaucelii ranjitsinhii is named after MK Ranjitsinh, one of India’s leading voices on conservation in India contribution towards the identification of it as a separate subspecies of swamp deer.
• The stronghold of the Eastern Swamp Deer is in Kaziranga, with a population of less than 1,000.
• The species is one of the three subspecies of swamp deer, commonly known as the barasingha. 
• The other two subspecies are: 
• Wetland swamp deer (R.d. duvaucelii) found in Gangetic plains 
• Hardground swamp deer (R.d. branderi) found in central India

• Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
• CITES: Appendix I
• Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I