Spotted Deer (Female)
The spotted deer, or chital, is the most common deer species in Indian forests. With a lifespan of about 20 to 30 years, it stands at about 35 inches tall. The deer’s golden coloring is speckled with white spots and it has a white underbelly. Its curved, three-pronged antlers extend nearly 3 feet and are shed each year.
Spotted deer most commonly occur in herds of 10 to 50 individuals, with one or two males and a number of females and young. They primarily eat grasses and vegetation but will also ingest their shed antlers as a source of nutrients.
Location: Ranthambore National Reserve, India
Photographer: Dave Saunders