Sambar Deer

Context (ToI): Odisha is set to launch its first captive breeding program for sambar at Satkosia Tiger Reserve to increase prey availability for predators like Royal Bengal Tigers and leopards.
This initiative aims to bolster prey density, a critical component for resuming the tiger translocation program that was halted in 2018 due to insufficient prey.

About Sambar Deer

Native Range: Sambar is native to the Indian subcontinent, South China, and Southeast Asia.
Geographical Distribution: Found in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and parts of China, including Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, and Indonesia.
Habitat: Inhabits tropical & subtropical forests, montane grasslands, rainforests, often near water. Prefers dense vegetation such as deciduous shrubs and grasses
Altitude Range: Found up to 3,500 m (11,500 ft) in the Himalayan foothills and parts of Taiwan.
Behavior: Nocturnal or crepuscular, with males living solitarily and females in small herds.
Conservation Status: IUCN: Vulnerable
Population Decline: Numbers have declined due to hunting, insurgency, and habitat destruction.
Significance: Sambar is a preferred prey for the Royal Bengal Tiger and leopards, both apex predators.

Satkosia Tiger Reserve = Satkosia Gorge Wildlife Sanctuary + Baisipalli Wildlife Sanctuary.
The Tiger Reserve is located where Mahanadi River passes through a long gorge in the Eastern Ghats.
The area is also a part of the Mahanadi ER.
Vegetation: Moist deciduous forests and riverine forest.
Major Fauna: Leopard, indian wild dog (dhole), sloth bear, Asian elephant, Bengal tiger.