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 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.