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country flag of Exploring photos of the Sambar taken in India

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  • The “sore” spot Many times when I am on safari in the forests of India, I hear someone exclaim, usually in alarm, that there is a wounded deer over there. 99% of the time this ends up being a Sambar with a large open sore oozing blood on the ventral surface of the neck. This is a common sight, but despite that, scientists do not know what it is, or why it happens! It is always visible but is most obvious and ‘oozy’ in the rutting season, from November to December. Because of this seasonal fluctuation, it is thought to be some kind of gland, and the ooze coming out of it is not actually blood but a fluid that may act as some kind of pheromone. It is a still a mystery, and not one is entirely sure what it is, what it is for and why it happens. It is important to note it is present on both male and female deer.

After many attempts, I managed to get a clean shot of the sore spot on this doe. It is out of season and not oozing, but is still very pronounced.
 April2015competition,Geotagged,India,John Rowell,Rusa unicolor,Sambar,Winter,adhocphotographer,sore spot
    The “sore” spot
  • The sambar stag || Bandipur || Feb 2021 Rusa unicolor,Sambar
    The sambar stag
  • Sore spot || Kabini || July 2015.
On many occasions on safari, I have seen people get alarmed thinking that there is a wounded deer by looking at its sore spot, the sambar deer that display this sore spot are easily mistaken to be wounded,  the sore spot usually occurs during the mating season, the falling hair give a bloody appearance to a circular area near the throat. This secretes a fluid, and is commonly called the Sore Spot. As to why it happens is a still a mystery, and not one is entirely sure what it is or what its for. Rusa unicolor,Sambar
    Sore spot
  • The watcher The stag watches approach cautiously, majestically.  Geotagged,India,John Rowell,Rusa unicolor,Sambar,Winter,adhocphotographer,bandipur,karnataka
    The watcher
  • Sambar stag portrait These guys are a lot more skittish than the Chital in the forest, and for good reason, they are the preferred food for tigers! So, to have one brave enough to allow me to get close enough to get a close portrait is a rarity and a privilege! :) 2015,Bandipur Tiger Reserve,Geotagged,India,John Rowell,Karnataka,Rusa unicolor,Sambar,Tiger Reserve,Winter,adhocphotographer,asia,copyright
    Sambar stag portrait
  • Royal stag || Tadoba || Jan 2020
https://www.facebook.com/MohammedSalmanPics/ Rusa unicolor,Sambar
    Royal stag
  • Sambar habitat || Magadhi, Bandhavgarh || Oct 2021 Rusa unicolor,Sambar
    Sambar habitat
  • Greyscale sambar stag || Bandipur || Feb 2021 Rusa unicolor,Sambar
    Greyscale sambar stag
  • Reach for the Top - Sambar Deer on two Legs We saw this Sambar Deer standing and very occasionally getting up on 2 legs to nibble on the higher branches. After several unsuccessful attempts to capture this behaviour, I finally managed a shot. I had never seen this large deer do this before. Geotagged,India,Rajasthan,Ranthambore National Park,Rusa unicolor,Sambar,Winter
    Reach for the Top - Sambar Deer on two Legs
  • Royal Stag || Ranthambore || Dec 2016
https://www.facebook.com/MohammedSalmanPics/ Rusa unicolor,Sambar
    Royal Stag
  • Female Sambar Deer A close up of female sambar deer during my safari in Ranthambore National Park India. Rusa unicolor,Sambar
    Female Sambar Deer
  • Sambar deer stag || Ranthambore || Dec 2016.
ƒ/5, ISO 400, 1/1250s @ 150mm.
https://www.facebook.com/MohammedSalmanPics/ Rusa unicolor,Sambar
    Sambar deer stag
  • Monochrome stag || Tadoba || Jan 2020
https://www.facebook.com/MohammedSalmanPics/ Rusa unicolor,Sambar
    Monochrome stag
  • Limelight lover -Sambar deer. Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan, India. Ranthambore National Park,Rusa unicolor,Sambar
    Limelight lover -Sambar deer.
  • Rainbow forest Sambar deer in Ranthambhore, India Fall,Geotagged,India
    Rainbow forest
  • Sambar deer || Dhikala, Corbett || March 2021 Rusa unicolor,Sambar
    Sambar deer
  • female sambar Female sambar deer at bandhavgarh Rusa unicolor,Sambar,deer,female sambar,india,nature,sambar deer
    female sambar
  • Sambar deer fawn A furry little Sambar deer fawn. Picture is taken in the wild and natural environment Rusa unicolor,Sambar,Tadoba,calf,deer,fawn,furry,habitat,india,indian,little,looking,natural,wild,wildlife
    Sambar deer fawn
  • Alert... We sat near a pool called 'Tiger tank' (for good reasons, see image below), waiting for, well, a tiger. There was a herd of Sambar grazing and edging towards the pool cautiously...  In the distance a Chital warning call echoed through the forest and the already weary Sambars tensed. I took the above shot as the warning call was heard and a moment after the sambar scattered into the bushes. I was lucky to catch the deer as it heard the alarm call and see it's immediate tensed and surprised stance. Fantastic!

ps - this is the pool the deer where next too...  makes sense why they were so nervous!
http://www.jungledragon.com/image/27827/parched.html  2015,5D mkIII,Geotagged,India,Jenifer Clark,John Rowell,Karnataka,Nagarhole National Park,Nagarhole Tiger Reserve,National Park,Rusa unicolor,Sambar,Spring,Tiger Reserve,adhocphotographer,asia,copyright
    Alert...
  • Sambar deer Male Sambar deer male, finished a drinking session. Well, it was water :-) Geotagged,India,Rusa unicolor,Sambar,deer,environment,forerst,india,indian,jungle,male,natural,tadoba,water,wild,wildlife
    Sambar deer Male
  • Sambar Deer Close-up A close-up of the common Sambar deer - just another of the amazing creatures in Ranthambore NP. Geotagged,India,Rajasthan,Ranthambore National Park,Rusa unicolor,Sambar,Winter
    Sambar Deer Close-up
  • Sambar deer A mynah bird enjoying a ride atop the deer... Geotagged,India,Rusa unicolor,Sambar
    Sambar deer
  • Sambar at dawn A female sambar in the morning dust and light! Geotagged,India,John Rowell,Kabini,Rusa unicolor,Sambar,Wildlife,Winter,adhocphotographer,redearth
    Sambar at dawn
  • The Sambar  Geotagged,India,Rusa unicolor,Sambar,Spring
    The Sambar
More photos.. (35 total)
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