South Indian Muntjac or Barking Deer (Muntiacus Muntjak Malabaricus)

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Sinhalese: Olu-Muwa, Welli-Muwa.

Tamil: Mann, Sembli-Mann or Pulatar-Mann.

Description: The adult male grows to about 60 cm at the shoulder; the female being about 45 cm. Their color is overall reddish brown and the buck has small antlers, and “tushes” which project about 1 cm from the upper jaw.

Distribution: Found in the jungle areas throughout most of the island, but seems to prefer the lower hills.

Habits: This little deer is very nervous and timid, and where it is persecuted by man, has become nocturnal. It is a solitary animal, seen singly or in pairs, and never far from cover. Its senses of smell, hearing and eye-sight are excellent, and its food consists of grasses and leaves. During the mating period, or when alarmed, it sometimes barks like a dog, and hence its common name.


Breeding: The gestation period is about 6 months, and normally one young is born; sometimes two.

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