Sangai : The brow-antlered deer or cervus eldi

                                                  Photos of The brow-altered deer Sangai

           The brow-antlered deer, locally called Sangai is one of the most endangered species  of the world. Its scientific name is cervus eldi. It was first discovered by a British officer, namely, Lt. Percy eld in the year 1839 and the scientific name was coined in honour of the officer in 1844. E.P. Gee who took all pains to locate the deer at Keibul Lamjao during 1953 termed Manipur's Sangai as the dancing deer. It is found only in the swampy habitat of Keibul Lamjao National Park in Manipur, a state in India.The deer are generally of medium size and are similar to the size and shape of the bsrssingha. The species has a very regal and graceful cervus physique. Its legs are thin and long, and has a long body with a large head on a thin neck. The throat of a male has a thick mane of long hair. Males (stags) are taller and heavier than the females (hinds or does). Their coats, rough and coarse, change colour with the season; in summer the colour is reddish-brown, while in winter, it turns dark brown, with males tending to be darker than the females. The tail is short in length and the rump has no distinct patch.The deer is peculiar in having a pair of ‘arc’ shaped antlers on tha pedicles. Standing height of an adult male reaches upto 120 cm. and a female 1005 cam. Rutting season of Sangai extends from late January to a little over the end of March. It is a monoesterus deer, and a doe gives a fawn during October – November, after a gestation period of 245-273 days.

        According to the latest count by the forest department, Government of Manipur, 149 heads of Sangai are surviving in the Keibul Lamjao National Park. They are facing the all round threatening factors of destruction of the feeding and breeding ground areas. Outside Manipur, more than 100 specimens of sangai are found as captive in various Zoos of the country. Delhi zoo hosts maximum numbers of captive sangai, the Wildlife Institute of India has taken a conversation programme, in which the Sangais (from captive stocks, say from Delhi, Calcutta or other zoos of the country) are to be introduced in the proposed second home located at Pabitora in Assam. In the first phase, herds each consisting of 5 males and 10 females from the zoo population will be kept in the enclosers for 3-4 years. This will help in increasing the numbers and after the stipulated period, the enclosers will be removed and sangai will be released. The species is a critically endangered now .
Measurement of sangai:

• Head–body length: 150–180 cm (59–71 in)
• Shoulder height: 110–125 cm (43–49 in)
• Tail length: 20–30 cm (8–12 in)
• Weight: 125–175 kg (276–386 lb)
• Antler length: 99 cm (39 in)