Have you ever seen a deer with beautiful white spots, like a sprinkle of stars on a brown coat? That’s our very own Ceylon Spotted Deer, also called the Sri Lankan Axis deer. Its scientific name is Axis axis ceylonensis, and it lives only on our beautiful island of Sri Lanka.
Where does it live?
The Ceylon Spotted Deer is found in dry forests, grassy plains, and near waterholes in Sri Lanka’s national parks like Yala, Wilpattu, and Udawalawe. These gentle animals love to stay in herds and are mostly active in early morning and the evening when it’s cooler.
What do they look like?
* Colour: Light brown or reddish-brown fur with white spots all over.
* Size: About the size of a large dog, but with long, thin legs.
* Antlers: Males have beautiful branching antlers, which they shed and grow again each year.
Their white-spotted coats help them blend into the forest, hiding from predators like leopards and crocodiles.
What do they eat?
The Ceylon Spotted Deer is a herbivore, which means it lives only on plants. Its favourite snacks include:
* Grass
* Leaves
* Fruits
* Tender tree shoots
Sometimes they follow monkeys, waiting for them to rummage the fruit trees so when they fall from the trees they quickly have access to some fast food.
How do they live?
These deer are very social and live in groups called herds. A herd can have many females and babies, with a few males. Males may fight with their antlers during the mating season to win the chance to lead a herd.
Baby deer, called fawns, are born with spots just like their parents. They can walk shortly after birth and stay close to their mothers for safety.
Why are they important?
The Ceylon Spotted Deer is a key part of Sri Lanka’s forest life. They:
* Help keep plants in balance by grazing.
* Provide food for big predators like the leopard.
* Add beauty and charm to Sri Lanka’s wild places.
Let’s protect them
Although these deer are not endangered, their homes are getting smaller because of forest clearing and human activity.
We can help them by:
* Protecting forests and national parks.
* Not disturbing them in the wild.
* Learning and teaching others about wildlife
Fun Facts
They’re good swimmers-If they need to escape danger or move to a new area, they can swim across rivers and lakes.
Males grow new antlers every year – Male deer grow long, beautiful antlers that they use to fight other males. After the mating season, they fall off—and then grow back again.
They live in large families- These deer live in herds, sometimes with over 50 members! It helps them stay safe from predators because more eyes and ears are always watching.
